UNLF Chairman Meghen 'arrested in Bangladesh'
Source: The Sangai Express / Subir Bhaumik (BBC News)

Imphal, October 13 2010: A prominent separatist leader from the North-East Indian State of Manipur has been arrested in Bangladesh and handed over, senior Indian officials say.

However when The Sangai Express contacted the Union Home Ministry, an official said that they have received information about the arrest of the rebel leader but had no information that he has been handed over to the Government of India.

Rajkumar Meghen, who leads the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), was held by Bangladeshi police earlier this month, the officials said.

Mr Meghen, whose alias is Sanayaima, was flown out of Bangladesh recently in an Indian aircraft, the officials said.

MPA cadres at a base camp and UNLF chairman RK Meghen alias Sanayaima

The UNLF is the oldest separatist group in India's North-East.

Formed in 1964 to fight for Manipur's liberation from India, the group is estimated to have 5,000 armed fighters.

It is the only group which has managed to retain territory in some areas of Manipur's borders with Burma, despite repeated military offensives by the Indian army.

Bangladesh has handed over more than 50 top leaders and activists of Indian separatist groups since a crackdown began in 2009.Many more have fled Bangladesh to evade capture or been caught on the border by Indian guards.

Indian officials said Mr Meghen had moved to the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, from his hideout in Burma's Sagaing Division to line up an arms deal.

His movements were tracked by monitoring his communication with the arms dealers, they said.

Analysts say India may be trying to influence the UNLF leader to start negotiations.

But he has steadfastly refused to talk with India.

Mr Meghen told the BBC six years ago that India must hold a plebiscite in Manipur under the aegis of the UN to ascertain whether Manipuris wanted to stay in India or not.

He was reportedly arrested in Burma in 2000 but released, prompting Indian protests.

The Burmese authorities remained silent.

The UNLF is estimated to have 5,000 fighters.

Our Staff Reporter adds : The UNLF has suffered a sort of a set back in the last couple of months with a few of its key leaders arrested, especially in Guwahati.

Just a day ago, Assam police had arrested a key member of the outfit along with an accomplice from a rented house at Panbazar, Guwahati.

The senior leader who was arrested yesterday has been identified as Joy Singh.

His aliases were not given while the accomplice has been identified as Ashok Singh of Nepal.

A few years back, the vice chairman of the outfit, P Tomba was arrested from Coimbatore by Tamil Nadu police and later brought to Manipur since a number of cases were pending against him.

The rebel leader was in Coimbatore to undergo medical treatment.

Another blow that the outfit suffered was when its senior leader, Ph Ghana shyam alias Priyo, a self styled Lt Colonel of the outfit and also in charge of the General Headquarters of the outfit along with another cadre, Jayanta Kumar, a self styled deputy secretary in the department of finance.

Delhi police, acting on a tip off, had arrested them from aboard a flight that was due to fly to Kathmandu in Nepal.

With the Sheikh Hasina Govt, pledging to co-operate with India in cracking down on militants from the North East, who have set up bases there, a number of militants have reportedly shifted to the safer climes of neighbouring Myanmar, where the NSCN (K) has a prominent presence.

UNLF is known to be a close ally of NSCN (K).