Bhutan stick for N-E ultras

Even as Bhutan King Jigme Singye Wangchuck announced in New Delhi on Monday that his government had invited ULFA, the NDFB and the KLO leade...

Even as Bhutan King Jigme Singye Wangchuck announced in New Delhi on Monday that his government had invited ULFA, the NDFB and the KLO leaders to end their ‘‘forcible occupation’’ of Bhutanese territory, the kingdom has trained as many as 116 militia volunteers to flush out the rebels.

Three Indian militant groups are illegally staying in the country, the biggest being ULFA that has over 1,200 cadre, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) has eight camps and the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) three.

‘‘It is important that we hand over a secure and sovereign Bhutan to the future generation,’’ Crown Prince D.K.N Wangchuck is stated to have said at the oath-taking ceremony of these 116 volunteers at Thimphu yesterday.

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The volunteers who underwent training in commando and jungle warfare included 28 militia officers, 53 undergraduates and 25 village volunteers, Kuensel, the official newspaper said. The 28 graduates and in-service volunteers were awarded the rank of lieutenant, 10 undergraduates, based on their merit, were awarded the post of second lieutenant.

It was only in May this year that the Bhutan King had appealed to the youth to flush out hundreds militants who have been staying there illegally.

The 79th session of the Bhutan National Assembly had called for military action to flush out the rebels after they failed to respond to the King’s call to quit voluntarily. The Assembly last month decided to give one more chance to the groups by asking them to come forward for talks.

The authorities had earlier held talks with leaders of the rebel groups, including ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, which failed to yield any result.