Guwahati, May 31: Dispur today indicated that Delhi had reacted ?positively? to its recommendation for the release of some incarcerated militant leaders and might announce its decision during talks with the Ulfa-constituted People?s Consultative Group (PCG) sometime in the next few weeks.

The Tarun Gogoi government recently forwarded a list of the Ulfa leaders who could be freed to expedite the peace process.

An official said the announcement would come during the next round of talks, which the PCG has hinted could be its last. The team of mediators handpicked by Ulfa has been maintaining that the militant leadership needs to start a direct dialogue with Delhi at the earliest.

The positive indication from the Centre to the proposal to release jailed militant leaders has come close on the heels of a warning from the PCG that the string of arrests of middle-ranked Ulfa functionaries in North Bengal could jeopardise the peace process.

During the last round of talks in the capital, the PCG argued that the release of jailed Ulfa leaders was crucial to the success of the peace process initiated by writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami. Most of these militant leaders are members of the Ulfa?s central executive, the outfit?s highest policy-making unit.

Dispur is understood to have recommended the release of the outfit?s veteran adviser, Bhimkanta Buragohain, vice-president Pradip Gogoi, cultural secretary Pranati Deka, publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary and Ramu Mech. The government is also considering recommending the release of Ulfa?s 28 Battalion ?commander? Mrinal Hazarika, one of those arrested in Siliguri recently.

?We may move the Centre for his release after he is handed over to us by Bengal police,? the official said.

The PCG members are expected to assemble in a day or two to review the situation and convey their stand to Raisom Goswami, who will then meet national security adviser M.K. Narayanan to fix the date for the next round of talks.

The New Delhi-based writer said recently that Ulfa?s participation in the peace talks depended on the outcome of the negotiations.

A source said Delhi might ask the PCG to be a ?guarantor? for the release of arrested Ulfa leaders. ?Some Ulfa leaders jumped parole in 1991. This time, the Centre is thinking of using the PCG as a guarantor.?

In any case, only a solid assurance from Ulfa on talks will convince the Centre of its sincerity.?