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Indian Army may help Bhutan
Girja Shankar Kaura
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 18
United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) cadres, who, along with the NDFB and the KLO militants are on the run in the dense forests of Bhutan may face further stern action with the possibility of the Indian Army contingent already based there joining hands with the Royal Bhutan Army to carry out the “cleaning up operations”.

Official sources here said that Thimpu may officially seek Indian help in delivering the fatal blow to the anti-India insurgents who have been on the run ever since the Royal Bhutan Army launched operations against their hideouts earlier in the week.

With the Indian forces having sealed the borders along Bhutan, sources here said that the Royal Bhutan Army may need Indian Army help as there were also possibilities of the militants striking back. Involvement of the Indian forces would ensure not only greater expertise for the Royal Bhutan Army but also provide the lethal punch and more sophisticated weapons in carrying out the operations.

India has already deployed a division strength of force along the West Bengal and Assam borders. Although there were no reports of insurgents entering West Bengal, some reports suggested that some of the cadres had managed to sneak into Assam.

This has further necessitated the need for the Indian forces joining the Royal Bhutan Army in the operations. Incidentally, the Indian Government has been keeping a very close watch on the Bhutanese action and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani has been talking to the Chief Ministers of both West Bengal and Assam to ensure that there were no gaps left along the borders with Bhutan.

Official sources here said, “The terrorists are on the run,” and may escape to nearby areas within Bhutan as well as southern side of the border. To stop this close cooperation between Royal Bhutan Army and Indian security forces will have to needed.

The Indian Army has not only been providing training to the Royal Bhutan Army but an Indian Infantry battalion is also based there for strategic purposes. The action against the North-East militants is expected to address the Indian security concerns in a big way.

The Indian Army joining hands with the Royal Bhutan Army for the final phase of the operation is also likely to be considered by the Cabinet Committee on Security when it meets next. Sources said that the CCS would also consider the overall action taken by the Royal Bhutan Army in the wake of the Indian pressure.

Sources also said that operations against the militants were likely to gain further momentum in the coming days once the Indian security forces officially participate in the “Operation all Clear”.

Reports also suggested that Bhutan was carrying out the offensive more under Indian pressure and as such help from across the border would be welcome for Thimpu. India is also likely to provide helicopters and other equipment to carry out aerial raids.

Bhutan today continued the operations for the fourth day running. So far, over 100 militants have been killed and over 30 of their camps destroyed. Over 3000 militants were suspected to be hiding the dense forests of Bhutan bordering the Indian North-Eastern states.

Sources said Bhutan was more willing for the operation as the militants were also posing to be a threat for the monarchy there. Bhutan now wants a complete control and shares with India a common threat to national security.

Bhutan rejects ULFA ceasefire offer
Sukhendu Bhattacharya

Samdrup Jongkhar (Bhutan), December 18
Bhutan today rejected a ceasefire call by ULFA and vowed to go ahead with the ongoing “short but decisive” military operation till the end result of flushing the Indian insurgents out of its soil was achieved.

Amidst reports of over 120 insurgents, including the chief of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), Jiban Singha, killed and over 500 captured, the operation continued for the fourth day. Meanwhile, Bhutan accused the Indian insurgent groups of ULFA, NDFB and KLO of violating its sovereignty and said “as long as they are here, they pose a threat to our national security.”

ULFA and NDFB publicity secretaries Mithinga Daimary and B. Erakado have been captured by the Bhutanese army and handed over to India. There were also reports of a large number of insurgents sneaking into West Bengal after most of their 30 camps were pounded by the Bhutanese army.

“We are not prepared to believe them (ULFA) on their call for a ceasefire and our battle will continue till the end result of flushing them out from our soil. We are prepared to face the consequences,” Mr Yeshey Dorjee, Director in the Bhutan Foreign Ministry, said at this town on the Indo-Bhutan border. — PTI