Indian separatists seek leader's release

A separatist group in the north-east Indian state of Assam has urged the Bangladesh government not to hand over to India one its leaders who is reported to be under arrest in Dhaka.

The head of the military wing of the United Liberation Front of Assam ULFA, Paresh Barua, told the BBC his organisation had asked Bangladesh to release Golab Barua, who is the general secretary of ULFA.

There have been conflicting reports from Bangladesh about whether Golab Barua has been arrested.

The BBC correspondent in Calcutta says that for many years ULFA rebels were able to take refuge in Bangladesh, but the arrest of Golab Barua indicates that the Awami League government in Dhaka is now trying to expel Indian separatists.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service