Assam-origin doctor in UK fights extradition on terror charge

LONDON: An Indian-origin doctor from Assam, now based in northeast England, appeared in a court here on Monday to contest his extradition to India on a terror charge as the alleged chairman of Ulfa(I).

The Crown Prosecution Service, appearing on behalf of the Indian government, told district judge

Michael Snow

at Westminster magistrates’s court that the conspiracy Dr Mukul Hazarika (75) is wanted for relates to organising terrorist camps and recruiting cadres for terrorism as part of his membership of a terrorist grouping. “In essence, he is charged with waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting the waging of war, against the government of India,”

CPS

barrister Ben Lloyd said.

Hazarika’s barrister Ben Cooper gave details of Hazarika’s active human rights advocacy work, including setting up

Assam Watch

, and it was claimed he was being targeted by Indian authorities as part of wider persecution of dissenting voices in the region.