New Delhi, Aug. 31: The deadlock in the Ulfa-Delhi peace process was today broken by a communiqué from the militant group, assuring the government that the five jailed leaders whose release it wants before starting a dialogue would not abscond.

The letter from Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Barua was apparently delivered to Union home secretary V.K. Duggal by writer-mediator Mamoni Raisom Goswami.

A Union home ministry official confirmed that Ulfa’s letter had reached the government. He said the government was exploring options to find a “meeting point” between Ulfa’s demand for the release of its jailed leaders and accepting its conditions in toto.

Sources said one possibility was to allow the release of the five jailed Ulfa leaders, vice-president Pradip Gogoi, cultural secretary Pranati Deka, political adviser Bhimkanta Burahohain, publicity chief Mithinga Daimary and Ramu Mech, and keep them under close watch to avoid a possible loss of face later.

Delhi is expected to take the all-important decision during the scheduled inter-ministerial meeting on September 5 between the Prime Minister’s Office and the ministries of defence and home.

Another issue that could be discussed at the inter-ministerial meeting is the suspension of army operations against Ulfa. The period for which operations have been suspended ends on September 7.

Ulfa’s letter mentions that it cannot take any decision on the proposal for a dialogue with the government until its top-rung leaders are freed from jail to complete the quorum in its executive council. The outfit wants to convene a meeting of its executive council before formally responding to Delhi’s conditions for talks.

Delhi has said it will release the leaders only if Ulfa meets the following demands — a letter addressed either to the Union home minister or the Assam chief minister, expressing its willingness for direct talks and stating a timeframe for the dialogue and the names of its representatives.

The government has also been insisting on the topmost Ulfa leader’s participation in the proposed dialogue.