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Bhutan captures key Indian separatist armoury as military offensive continues

IRNA

Guwahati, Dec 22, IRNA -- Bhutan has captured a key Indian separatist 
armoury and seized a huge array of weapons and ammunition as the 
military offensive to oust rebels from the kingdom entered its eight 
day Monday, officials said. 
"The haul of weapons, ammunition, and explosives is indeed very 
significant and is definitely a big loss for the militants," a 
Bhutanese government official told IRNA by telephone from capital 
Thimphu. 
The seizures were made from at least six rebel camps located 
inside the southern Samdrup Jhonkhar district during continuing 
assaults by Bhutanese troops as part of their offensive code-named 
`Operation All Clear`. 
According to preliminary estimates, troops have recovered 
between 450 to 550 AK-47 assault rifles, 120 pistols, and several 
light machine guns, besides ammunition numbering about 10,000. 
"Several mortars, sophisticated radio sets, and satellite 
telephones, besides explosives were seized from the rebel hideouts," 
the official said. 
The militants, however, denies the Bhutanese claims. Bhutan on 
December 15 launched the military crackdown on three Indian 
separatist groups - the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom 
(ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the 
Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO). 
The three groups, fighting for independent homelands, had set up 
well-entrenched bases inside the dense jungles in southern Bhutan. 
The ULFA and the NDFB are rebel groups from the border state of 
Assam, while the KLO is from West Bengal. Bhutan claimed it had 
smashed all the 30 rebel camps, but admitted the militants were 
still holed up inside the kingdom. 
"Contrary to some reports that the operations were halted, we 
would like to state that the raids are continuing in full blast," 
the Bhutanese official said. 
Meanwhile, Indian authorities have stepped up security for 
Bhutanese nationals residing in parts of Assam. 
The ULFA Sunday warned all Bhutanese to `quit` Assam and 
threatened counter-attack on the Himalayan kingdom. 
There could be up to 6,000 Bhutanese nationals currently residing 
in parts of Assam and other northeastern states - most of them arrive 
in the region to sell wool products. 
/212 
End