Guwahati, February 13:

The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has termed the arrest of Assamese rights leader Lachit Bordoloi on charges of alleged links with the outfit as an attempt by the government to derail the peace process.

Bordoloi, a member of the ULFA-chosen People’s Consultative Group (PCG), was arrested Monday under the Explosives Substance Act and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for allegedly aiding and abetting terrorism.

A Guwahati court yesterday remanded Bordoloi and Air Deccan executive Sumanta Dutta to five days in police custody — both arrested for helping the ULFA in an alleged plot to hijack an aircraft.

The duo denied the charges — the ULFA too rejected police allegations of any hijacking plot.

“When the PCG was constituted in 2005, we gave in writing the names of the members that we have entrusted to liase with the government for exploring possibilities of peace talks. Under the circumstances, it is not a crime if any PCG member was in touch with us,” ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said in a statement.