IANS

Dhaka, Sep 12: Bangladesh says it will not hand over Indian separatist leader Anup Chetia, who served a jail term here for entering the country with fake documents, but stressed it would not allow its territory to be used by militants.

Back from her visit to India, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told reporters Friday that Chetia, a top leader of the United Liberation of Asom (ULFA), had already completed his sentence. Therefore, he was not covered by the bilateral agreement under which Indians sentenced in Bangladesh could finish their jail term in India and vice versa, The Daily Star newspaper said.

Chetia is wanted for organising insurgent operations in India's Assam state.

"Anup Chetia has already finished his jail term and will not come under the purview of the agreement," Moni told reporters.

Chetia was caught in Bangladesh in 1997. After he finished his jail term, a local human rights body campaigned against his repatriation and the government of then prime minister Khaleda Zia stayed the process.

India accuses Bangladesh of hosting many top ULFA leaders, as also those of other militant bodies in the Indian northeast, many of whom have settled down to do business and raise families.

Dhaka, however, reiterated its stand during Moni's India visit that it would not allow its territory to be used by these militants.