Sashadhar Choudhury
Encyclopedia
Sashadhar Choudhury or Sasha Choudhury (real name Sailen Choudhury) is the Foreign Secretary of the outlawed outfit ULFA, Assam
His predecessor was Javed Bora. He hails from Helosa gaon in Nalbari
district of Assam
. He is married to Runima Choudhury and they have a son Sisir.
. At times he represented ULFA at international foras including the UN. He is known to be the only English speaking ULFA who even interrupts his interrogators to correct their language.
away from a house in sector 3 of Uttara in Dhaka
. Later they were pushed back to the Indo-Bangladesh Border where they were detained by BSF in Tripura
while trying to infiltrate. They were handed over to Assam Police on November 6 by the BSF. But according the Assam Police, the leaders surrendered before BSF in Tripura fleeing the crackdown against them in Bangladesh. Choudhury had earlier been arrested in Mizoram
in 1996 and came out on bail.
On Saturday, November 7, 2009, the Special Operation Unit of the Assam police produced Choudhury and Hazarika before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (Metropolitan). His family was set free for no pending cases were there against them.
: মৰি যাম কিন্তূ শশ চৌধুৰীয়ে surrender নকৰে; English
: Sasha Choudhury will rather die than surrender)," he cleared his stand on the circumstances of his “arrest”.
from 6 am demanding their unconditional release. ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa
, in a statement issued through e-mail, described the two leaders’ arrest as a “ploy to sabotage the process of finding a political solution to the problem and destroy ULFA militarily.”
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
His predecessor was Javed Bora. He hails from Helosa gaon in Nalbari
Nalbari
Nalbari is a city and a municipal board in Nalbari district in the Indian state of Assam. Nalbari is headquarter of Nalbari District.-Education:...
district of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
. He is married to Runima Choudhury and they have a son Sisir.
Education
Choudhury is a diploma in civil engineering and educated himself in diplomacy in PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. At times he represented ULFA at international foras including the UN. He is known to be the only English speaking ULFA who even interrupts his interrogators to correct their language.
Arrest
On Sunday night, November 1, 2009, some unidentified gunman took Choudhury, along with the outfit’s finance secretary Chitrabon HazarikaChitrabon Hazarika
Chitrabon Hazarika is the Finance Secretary of the banned outfit ULFA, Assam. He has also been holding the additional charge of general secretary since Anup Chetia’s arrest in 1997. A commerce graduate he hails from Jakhalabandha in Nagaon district of Assam...
away from a house in sector 3 of Uttara in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
. Later they were pushed back to the Indo-Bangladesh Border where they were detained by BSF in Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
while trying to infiltrate. They were handed over to Assam Police on November 6 by the BSF. But according the Assam Police, the leaders surrendered before BSF in Tripura fleeing the crackdown against them in Bangladesh. Choudhury had earlier been arrested in Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
in 1996 and came out on bail.
On Saturday, November 7, 2009, the Special Operation Unit of the Assam police produced Choudhury and Hazarika before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (Metropolitan). His family was set free for no pending cases were there against them.
Choudhury’ stand
While replying to media-questions, Choudhury said that they had not surrendered but were arrested by Bangladeshi Police Commandos. "Mori jam kintu Sasha Choudhurye surrender nokore (AssameseAssamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
: মৰি যাম কিন্তূ শশ চৌধুৰীয়ে surrender নকৰে; English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Sasha Choudhury will rather die than surrender)," he cleared his stand on the circumstances of his “arrest”.
Charges
On March 4, 1997, arrest warrant was issued for Choudhury. He is charged with Murder, voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapon, mischief by causing damage, acts done by several persons infurtherrance of common intention, commission of terrorist and disruptive acts. A case is filed in Chabua PS Case No. 96/89 U/S 302/326/427/34 IP R/W Sec. 3/4 TADA(P) Act.Reaction
On November 9, 2009, ULFA called for a 12-hour Assam bandhBandh
Bandh , originally a Hindi word meaning 'closed', is a form of protest used by political activists in some countries like India and Nepal. During a Bandh, a political party or a community declares a general strike....
from 6 am demanding their unconditional release. ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa
Arabinda Rajkhowa
Arabinda Rajkhowa , , alias Mijanur Rahman Choudhury is the Chaiman of the banned outfit ULFA. He is one of the founder members of the outfit. He was also the Vice-President of the Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front...
, in a statement issued through e-mail, described the two leaders’ arrest as a “ploy to sabotage the process of finding a political solution to the problem and destroy ULFA militarily.”
See also
- List of top leaders of ULFA
- Sanjukta Mukti FoujSanjukta Mukti FoujSanjukta Mukti Fouj is the military wing of the banned outfit ULFA in Assam, India. It was formed on March 16, 1996. It has three full-fledged battalions – the 7th, 28th and 709th with allocated spheres of operation in HQ- Sukhni, Tinsukia/Dibrugarh and Kalikhota respectively...
- People's Consultative GroupPeople's Consultative GroupThe People’s Consultative Group was a citizen’s group in Assam constituted by ULFA to initiate the talk process as mediator between the central government and the outfit itself. It was constituted on September 8, 2005 with 11 members in it.It was dissolved by ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa on the...