NEW DELHI: Bangladesh has handed over leader of banned Assamese outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) Anup Chetia to India, almost 18 years after it arrested him in a passport forgery case .

The deportation was okayed by Dhaka late on Tuesday after intervention at the highest level of the Indian government, concluding protracted deliberations in the matter.

Confirming the development, Home Ministry sources told TOI that Chetia, who was arrested by the Dhaka authorities in 1997 and has already completed his sentence there, is likely to be brought to Delhi later on Wednesday by a CBI team.

Sources in the intelligence agencies say Chetia is likely to be questioned first by central agencies in Delhi. ​His custody may then be given to Assam police .

Speaking about the development, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said, ​"This is a major breakthrough, it will lead to cracking of many cases. would like to thank Bangladesh PM and government for finally heeding to our demand."

Chetia, a founding member of ULFA and its general secretary, is wanted for murder, abductions and extortion in India.

He had sought political asylum in Bangladesh thrice in 2005, 2008 and in 2011 after Bangladesh police arrested him in December 1997 and was subsequently handed seven years of jail terms by two courts for cross-border intrusion, carrying fake passports and illegally keeping foreign currencies.

Despite the expiry of his term, Chetia was in jail under a 2003 High Court directive asking authorities to keep him in safe custody until a decision was taken on his asylum plea.

Read this story in Marathi: मोदी सरकारच्या शिष्टाईला यश; 'उल्फा'चा म्होरक्या जाळ्यात