2 died, 35 injured as Bhutan refugees turn violent

Panitanki, Indo-Nepal Border, May 30: At least two persons, including a child, were today killed and over 35 injured, most of them securitymen, in skirmishes between Bhutanese refugees and Indian security forces at Mechi bridge here, about 30 kms north of Siliguri.

Among the injured were Darjeeling"s Superintendent of Police Rajesh Subarna and scores of securitymen of Suraksha Sima Bal and West Bengal police, a top official said.

The trouble began 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 move for Bhutan in groups by using Indian territory.

Some of the injured among the refugees were rushed to hospital at Kakarbhitta in Nepal, where two of them succumbed to injuries.

To review the situation tomorrow at 0900 hours a flag meeting would be held here between officials of Nepal and Indian Government, according to the high officials of Nepal and Indian security agencies.

UNI