It was a rare public glimpse of ULFA chairman and co-founder, Arabinda Rajkhowa, wanted for murder, kidnapping and extortion. Rajkhowa was finally produced in court after he refused to budge from his demand of sovereignty.
"Talks cannot happen with handcuffs on," said Rajkhowa.
As he was brought to be produced in the court, the ULFA chief also said that he had not surrendered.
NDTV has learnt that Rajkhowa spent the entire day in negotiations before he was produced at the magistrate's court for police custody.
As per sources, the government has made it clear it will not negotiate on sovereignty for Assam; Rajkhowa has to pledge that ULFA will abjure violence; and the government is ready to wait for a month for Rajkhowa to make up his mind.
There was a daylong spectacle for hundreds of people waiting to catch a glimpse of the man who founded the outfit, which dominated the socio-political landscape of Assam for the last three decades unleashing a reign of terror. Has the man now come to speak the language of peace or has the outfit run out of steam?
"Yes we are curious. We want to see him," said a local.
The big question now is that just who is calling the shots in the ULFA. On Saturday, the outfit's military chief Paresh Baruah denied reports of a rift.
In an open letter he said: "Reports of Rajkhowa surrendering are the divide and rule tactics of 'colonial' forces. There is no split in ULFA. Sovereignty is the only issue."
Despite the present roadblock, negotiators are hoping that Rajkhowa will see the writing on the wall and agree to talks.