New Delhi: R.K. Meghan, the chairman of the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) separatist outfit from Manipur, has arrived in the north-eastern state on November 28 afternoon after a gap of 44 years.At a time when the Naga peace talks are at a crucial stage and the majority community in Manipur, the Meiteis, are apprehensive about its effect on the state – thus triggering many a street protest demanding disclosure of the clauses to be included in the agreement, Meghan’s arrival in Imphal is being widely looked at as a crucial development.Speaking to reporters at the Imphal airport, Meghan said he was “happy” to be back in Manipur after so many years.Ar around 1:30 pm on Thursday, Meghan, accompanied by his eldest son, R.K. Chinglen, arrived at the Imphal airport from Delhi. News from Imphal said he was received by his family and wellwishers with garlands.This past November 9, the 72-year-old Meghan, better known in the state and the region as Sanayaima, or son of the soil, was released from the Guwahati central jail. The rebel leader was set free at least ten months before his jail term was to end due to good behaviour. Prior to the general elections, his family was informed about his possible release in November.Before the state elections in 2017, top sources at the Guwahati jail told The Wire that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the godman close to the Narendra Modi government, had an audience with Meghan inside the jail, leading to speculation in some quarters about his possible release.After he was set free from jail this November 9, the National Investigating Agency (NIA), which had arrested him in 2010 on the charge of waging war against India, didn’t allow him to travel to Manipur and shifted him to a safe house in Guwahati instead. Thereafter, on November 10, he was flown, along with his eldest son R.K. Chinglen, to another safe house in Delhi. Though some reports said he was re-arrested by the NIA, Meghan’s lawyer M. Gunedhor Singh told mediapersons that no fresh case had been slapped on the rebel leader by the central agency.Speculation is rife in local media that it was done keeping the Naga peace accord in mind.Reacting to Meghan’s detention, Babloo Loitongbam, well-known human rights activist from Imphal, told The Wire, “Arbitrary detention of political prisoner Sanayaima after completion of his prison term is a violation of human rights.”Arrested in December 2010In December 2010, the NIA reportedly arrested Meghan from Motihari in Bihar while he trying to cross over from Nepal through India for Bangladesh. However, according to Meghan, he was taken into custody by Bangladeshi authorities in September that year on the advice of the Indian government and was handed over to the security agencies. Meghan’s presence in Bangladesh and close contact with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) prior to the rebel outfit joining peace talks with the Indian government finds a mention in the autobiographical narrative of living in hiding by Kaberi Kachari, the wife of the ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa.Though the NIA sought life imprisonment to Meghan at the special court, he and another UNLF leader Joy Singh were convicted in June 2016 and given a ten-year jail term under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various sections of the IPC. Sixteen others from the outfit were also convicted for seven-eight years.Though his lawyer, Gunedhor Singh, pleaded against the NIA’s demand for life imprisonment, Meghan didn’t seek any mercy from the court. He had reportedly said, “Today, I remember the remark of President Fidel Castro of Cuba when tried for rebellion who said history shall absolve him. Castro was fighting against the repressive regime of a dictator. I leave the matter of my sentence to the judicial wisdom of this court.”