The Hindu : National : There is no extremist base in Bhutan, says Thinley

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There is no extremist base in Bhutan, says Thinley

Sushanta Talukdar

‘Special bond between Bhutan, Assam must be strengthened'
All militants have been handed over to Indian authorities: Thinley

— Photo: AFP

A file photo of Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley.

Guwahati: Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley said on Monday that no extremist element had found shelter in Bhutan ever since extremists were flushed out from his country in 2003. He said there were no leader of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) or any ULFA detainee in Bhutan.

“There are no ULFA leaders or ULFA detainees in my country. They have all been handed over to Indian authorities, as we should have, and we did,” Mr Thinley told journalists while responding to questions at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International airport at Borjhar here during a stopover before he took a scheduled flight from Guwahati to Paro in Bhutan.

Journalists had sought Mr. Thinley's comment on reports about some ULFA leaders missing since the crackdown on Indian militants in Bhutan and media reports about Assam militants trying to re-enter Bhutan to take shelter.

The Bhutanese Prime Minister arrived at the airport by road after attending a Samdrupjongkhar initiative (SJI) launch on Sunday at Chokyi Gyatsho institute in Dewathang in eastern Bhutan adjoining Assam.

Flushed out

In 2003 the Royal Bhutan Army launched the Operation All Clear to flush out militants of ULFA, National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation.

Describing Assam as “our next door neighbour,” the Bhutanese Prime Minister said Bhutan and Assam enjoy special bond and stressed the need for strengthening this bond.

Warm welcome

Assam Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Bhumidhar Barman accorded a warm welcome to the Bhutanese Prime Minister at the airport. Mr Thinley also inspected a Guard of Honour by Assam Police personnel.

Meanwhile, the much awaited verdict on bail applications of jailed ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa was deferred till Wednesday as the State government was yet to submit its affidavit on “no objection” stand of the government to granting of bail to Mr. Rajkhowa.

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