Guwahati, March 3: Ulfa vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi is yet to direct his lawyers to submit bail bonds which would see him walk out of jail.

Gogoi was granted bail by the designated court in cases registered against him on February 23.

The Ulfa leader’s counsel, Nabasmita Gogoi, confirmed that she was yet to receive any direction from her client to furnish his bail bonds.

She, however, refused to speculate on what could be the reason for the delay.

Sources attributed Gogoi’s procrastination in issuing the directive to his lawyers to a “strategic desire” to come out along with some other jailed leaders, who are likely to apply for bail.

“There is a possibility that Gogoi wants to walk out of jail with them so that they can kickstart the preliminary process for starting the peace talks with the government,” a source said.

The source said that after the political ideologue of Ulfa, Bhimkanta Buragohain, was shifted to Guwahati Central Jail from Tezpur Jail on February 21, the top incarcerated leadership of the rebel outfit had held discussions inside prison to chart out a roadmap for peace talks.

“These jailed leaders are working on a strategy and two more leaders are likely to apply for bail. Gogoi may want to get out of jail along with them,” he said.

When he was produced before a court last month, Gogoi had said that Ulfa’s general council would discuss and take a decision on the Centre’s offer of talks and six council members, who are currently in Guwahati Central Jail, would discuss the matter before taking a decision.

“Perhaps Gogoi will furnish bail bonds after the jailed leaders arrive at a consensus on this issue and the other two leaders are also granted bail,” he said.

As the suspense over the Ulfa leader’s release continues, multiple theories are doing the rounds. Some quarters also believe that the bail bonds have not been submitted as the sureties are yet to be arranged.

“In six TADA cases, he will require two sureties for each case. Similarly, there are three other cases against him where he will require one surety each. Arrangements for so many sureties will take some time,” another source said.

Speculation is rife that the government will not oppose the bail pleas of the jailed Ulfa leaders in a bid to prepare the ground for the peace talks.

The government’s move not to oppose the bail, coupled with the shifting of Bhimkanta Buragohain to Guwahati Central Jail, is being viewed as a step to facilitate talks with the outfit.