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Bhutan wakes up to Bodo terrorism

The Royal Bhutan Government ordered stoppage of Bhutanese vehicular traffic through Assam, following the killing of at least 15 Bhutanese nationals over three days, by suspected militants of the banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in the western part of the state bordering the Himalayan kingdom.

According to sources in the Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi, Thimphu has also asked for special steps to protect its nationals in Assam.

Many Bhutanese visit Assam and other parts of the north-east to sell woollen garments during winter. The Bhutias'-made woollens are a hit in the north-east as they are affordable and attractive.

Bhutanese in the southern part of the kingdom are dependent on Assam for day-to-day requirements. At least 100 vehicles with Bhutanese registrations pass through Assam everyday.

The attack on Bhutanese nationals, intelligence sources in Guwahati said, followed a three-day visit of Bhutanese King Jigme Singme Wangchuk to southern areas bordering Assam. During the visit, the king reportedly told villagers not offer assistance and food to members of Assam-based militant groups -- the NDFB and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).

"The king's directive perhaps resulted in these retaliatory attacks," a top intelligence official said.

The ULFA and NDFB have hideouts in the deep jungles of southern Bhutan for three years. Although the Indian Government has been repeatedly pressing the Bhutan authorities to crack down on militants, Thimphu has been treading cautiously. In fact, the Bhutanese authorities have held talks with militant leaders, according to reports in Bhutan's only newspaper, Kuensel.

Indian Army officials are watching the developments keenly. Said a senior commander: ''Perhaps now the Bhutanese will be goaded into taking some action against the militants."

The killings by NDFB on Thursday night added a new dimension to insurgency in Assam. At least 10 Bhutanese nationals and a Nepali of Bhutanese origin were killed in western Assam's Barpeta and Darrang districts on Thursday night.

Suspected NDFB militants also killed five rebels of the pro-talks Bodo Liberation Tigers in lower Assam, raising the toll since Thursday night to 16.

The killing of 10 Bhutanese nationals and the Nepali settler came two days after NDFB militants gunned down two persons from the Himalayan kingdom and injured 16. The rebels also set ablaze two vehicles with Bhutanese registration numbers.

Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta condemned the spate of killings and assured full protection to Bhutias, who come to the state for business.

Additional Director-General of Police (Operations) G M Srivastava said that nine Bhutanese nationals and a Nepali settler were mowed down in Barpeta district, while another was killed in Darrang district. A Bhutia was injured in the Darrang attack.

In the first incident, at around 1500 hours IST, heavily armed militants raided Lakhibazar near Kokilabari under Patacharkuchi police station in Barpeta district and fired at a group of Bhutanese nationals dealing mainly in woollens. Nine of the Bhutias and a Nepali of Bhutanese origin were killed on the spot. The incident occurred just seven km from the Indo-Bhutan border.

Due to the remoteness of the area, Barpeta police learnt of the incident only on Friday morning.

In the second incident, five suspected NDFB militants raided a house at Bengbari under Paneri police station in Darrang district and fired at Bhutanese traders. Darrang police said two persons were injured.

One of them, Nawong Narbo, succumbed to injuries in the district headquarters town of Mangaldoi.

The Bhutanese traders had rented the house, owned by a local farmer, to run a woollen garment business.

On Wednesday, NDFB militants ambushed a bus in Kokrajhar district, killing two Bhutanese nationals and injuring 16. The bus was heading towards Phuentsholling from Gelephu in Bhutan.

In two other incidents that day, a truck belonging to the Bhutan police and a Toyota were set ablaze in Kokrajhar district.

NDFB militants also killed five Bodo Liberation rebels in Nalbari district.

Police sources in Nalbari said the NDFB rebels attacked a BLT hideout under Musalpur police station.

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