Bangladesh hands over separatist rebel leader to India

May 1, 2010, 11:19 GMT

New Delhi - A separatist rebel leader from north-eastern India was arrested in Bangladesh and handed over to India, where he is wanted for ordering bombings, news reports said Saturday.

Ranjan Daimary, founder of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, was handed over by Bangladesh Rifles to India's Border Security Force in the state of Meghalaya Friday night, the IANS news agency reported.

The report cited intelligence sources saying that police in Assam state took custody of the rebel chief suspected of masterminding multiple bombings in 2008 that killed almost 100 people.

Daimary founded the insurgent group in 1994. It has been fighting for independence for the tribal Bodo community in western Assam.

He has reportedly been in Bangladesh for many years, operating from there to carry out attacks in Assam.

The group entered into a ceasefire with the Indian government in 2005. In December 2008, it expelled Daimary for his role in the explosions, according to officials.

India's north-east, which shares borders with China, Myanmar and Bangladesh, is a volatile region where nearly 40 separatist, tribal or leftist armed groups are active in five states.

In December 2009, Bangladesh handed over leaders of Assam's most powerful separatist group, United Liberation Front of Asom.