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Security strengthened on borders with Nepal, Bhutan

Siliguri (West Bengal): Vigil along borders with Nepal and Bhutan has been strengthened to restrict entry of Bhutanese people of Nepali origin and Nepali Maoists.

Inspector-General of Police (North Bengal) R.J.S. Nawla said on Sunday that reinforcements of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), in charge of guarding the borders with Nepal and Bhutan, and the West Bengal police, which provides back-up to the force, had been deployed.

Mr. Nawla said that the SSB reinforcements would help restrict the entry of the Bhutanese of Nepali origin and Maoists from Nepal through non-conventional routes. More personnel have posted in the police stations along the borders.

The Maoists of Nepal were of late trying to increase their presence in Bhutan, which would soon become a democracy.

Recently, 14 suspected Maoists were arrested in Bhutan, Mr. Nawla said quoting intelligence sources.

More numbers of SSB and police personnel were also posted along the Bhutan border at Jaigaon and in the dense forest of Dooars in Jalpaiguri district, which is a favourite haunt for the militants of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation, Mr. Nawla said.

The India-Nepal border at Panitanki, 35 km from here, recently witnessed violence when at least 10,000 Bhutanese of Nepali origin gathered on the other side of the border and demanded that they be allowed to use the Indian corridor to get across to Bhutan.

Some SSB personnel and West Bengal policemen were injured in the violence.

PTI

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