30 Indian Securitymen injured as Bhutanese refugees stoned them

By Staff
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Panitanki, Indo-Nepal Border, May 29 (UNI) Nearly 30 Indian securitymen including Darjeeling's Superintendent of Police Rajesh Subarna were injured when unspecified numbers of Bhutanese refugees stonned them at Mechi bridge, bordering India and Nepal, about 30 kms north of Siliguri town, today, high official said.

The injured, twenty of them, were admitted to a government-owned hospital at Naxalbari in Siliguri sub-division of Darjeeling district. The others were released after giving first aid, hospital sources said.

Inspector General Police (North Bengal) MKS Nalua said the refugees hurled stones, wooden planks and other missiles when they were prevented from enterning Indian territory by the combined force of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the West Bengal Police.

The refugees had assembled there in a bid to go to Bhutan by using Indian territory and take part in "Mock election" in the Himalayan Kingdom.

To retaliate the brickbats and missiles, the jawans fired some 40 rounds to disperse them, Mr Nalua said. Mr Nalua said the refugees had the backing of some armed group, probably Maoist elements, to force Indian land for going to Bhutan.

An unconfirmed report from the other side of the border said at least four refugees sustained bullet injuries.

The trouble began since last evening when thousands of refugees, under the banner of People's Forum for Human Rights and National Front for Democracy in Bhutan, assembled on the other side of Mechi bridge to make a move for Bhutan in groups by using Indian territory.

But the Indian security jawans were already in position at the site to foil any move of using this side for going Bhutan. The jawans last night made mild lathi charge to foil a move for entering India.

In order to go to Bhutan from Nepal, the refugees have to use Indian corridor, because there is no other way barring high mountain passes.

Initially, the Indian security forces today used teargas shells and resorted to mild lathicharge, but as they failed to control the situation, they were compelled to fire at the crowd, Mr Nalua said.

A report said among the four injured refugees, two critically wounded were admitted to a local hospital at Kakarbhitta in Nepal.

Meanwhile, with the tension prevailing, more security forces were deployed and the border was sealed, Mr Nalua added.

Mr Nalua said the refugees were pushed beyond the " No-Man-Zone" in the border area where now the situation was, though tense, but under control.

People's Forum for Human Rights general secretary D P Kaple, who led a section of refugees, said they have every right to take part in the election since they are the Bhutanese.

UNI

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