Prabal Neog (with a gamocha around his neck) after his release on Wednesday. A Telegraph picture

Dibrugarh, July 23: The brain behind the Ulfa peace process and one of the most influential militant leaders, Prabal Neog, walked out of Dibrugarh jail this afternoon, raising hopes about a formal ceasefire between the government and the A and C companies of the outfit.

Neog was joined by Jiten Dutta and Joon Bhuyan, two senior leaders of the 28 battalion which started the peace process, outside the jail from where he was whisked away in a convoy of around 20 vehicles.

Neog was commandant of the 28 battalion before he was arrested by police from Tezpur on September 17 last year, along with his wife Bonti Lahon.

From his prison cell, Neog played a big role in convin-cing the 28 battalion leaders to declare a ceasefire and come for talks. Neog merely said after his release today that “I will discuss with my colleagues and then decide how to go about the peace process”.

Neog alias Benudhar Bora was released from jail after the Ulfa leader was granted bail by several courts in all the 62 cases pending against him in various police stations of the state.

As the news of Neog’s possible release broke, a large number of people gathered in front of Dibrugarh Central Jail since morning.

Among the crowd was Neog’s father Haladhar Bora and mother Junaki and wife Bonti, who was released in December last year. Some Sulfa members were also seen on the jail premises today, waiting for his release.

Neog is a resident of Barekuri under Makum police station in Tinsukia district.

After his release, Neog headed towards his residence at Barekuri and did not say much on the ongoing peace process to journalists who were waiting for him.

“I have just been released from jail. Let me have discussions with my comrades and then I will be able to say something. At this point I would not like to say anything,” Neog said as he was escorted out by the pro-talks Ulfa cadres.

Neog, who joined the outfit in 1987, however, did mention that the Alpha and Charlie companies’ peace initiative has his “moral support”.

The commander of the two companies, Jiten Dutta, said Neog’s release has come as a huge morale booster. “Neog’s release will help us take the peace process forward.”

Dutta hinted that both sides — the government and the militants — have agreed on the ground rules for a formal ceasefire. “The final declaration would be made soon after chief minister Tarun Gogoi returns from Delhi,” he said.

Dutta added that they were not bothered with the top leadership of Ulfa suspending them from the outfit. “We had made it clear earlier that we are prepared to face death penalty for breaking discipline, but before that, we want to ensure that Assam will have permanent peace and there will be no more bloodshed.”