Guwahati: A TADA designated court in the city on Thursday acquitted United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa in a murder case dating back to 1990.
Rajkhowa was acquitted on the basis of benefit of doubt in the case relating to the murder of noted businessman Surendra Paul.
The businessman was gunned down on April 9, 1990 at Tinsukia district in upper Assam by suspected ULFA militants.
The case was being heard by Special Judge Designated Court, Assam, headed by Justice H Sarma.
A total of 16 witnesses were examined during the trial.
Besides Rajkhowa, five other serving and former ULFA members were accused in the case.
The court had earlier acquitted ULFA vice chairman Pradip Gogoi and surrendered ULFA members Sourav Gogoi and Jugal Kishore Mahanta in the case.
Of the two other accused, ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah is still in hiding at the oufit's headquarters located in the Myanmar-China border, while general secretary Anup Chetia is lodged in a jail in Bangaldesh since 1997.
"We do not indulge in criminal activities. Our's is a political movement," a relieved Rajkhowa said, coming out of the court, after his acquittal.
In March 2012, the ULFA chairman, along with seven other former ULFA cadres, had been acquitted in another case related to the murder of Sibsagar-based businessman and political leader Bijoy M Baruah and his two bodyguards back in 1991.
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