Sahabir Subba, 21, of Beldangi-I camp sector G-3 hut number 335, has sustained a bullet on his chest when an unidentified gang opened fire at him Friday evening at 9:20 p.m.

Critically injured Subba was immediately rushed to BP Koirala Memorial Hospital, Dharan for treatment, camp-based Armed Police Force Iin-charge, Bhupendra Niraula, informed Bhutan News Service.

Camp Secretary, TB Gurung, also confirmed shoot out inside the camp.

No one was arrested following the incidence yet.

Except emergency, all health services in Khudunabari camp have come to a complete halt for the last one week following the death of Ganga Tiwari, 17.

Relatives and family of late Tiwari have claimed that she died due to negligence of the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) in refereeing her to Bhadrapur on time.

In a query of BNS, source at the AMDA said that she died on the way to hospital. Though refugees have refuted it, AMDA claimed that their staff Puja Thapa was manhandled by refugees in the camp following the incidence.

Meanwhile, 40 volunteers associated with AMDA in Beldangi-I camp had decided to submit resignation en mass a couple of days back. However, a joint meeting assured prompt supply of medicines to camp and they had agreed to work.

It is reported that some of the staffs were told of submitting thier resignation by the AMDA since they demanded ‘regular supply ‘ of medicines to the camps. Refugee volunteers say that AMDA has a good stock of medicines in the pharmacy but supply is delayed citing various reasons.

“It is sad but the fact is people are forced to purchase medicines from pharmacies,” said TB Gurung, camp secretary of Beldangi-I camp.

By Arjun Pradhan/BNS

Beldangi-I camp-based Armed Police Force (APF) arrested Bhim Kala Gurung aka ‘Punam’ for her alleged involvement in the United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan (URFB).

A special APF search team under the command of Indrajit Majhi arrested Punam, 22, a temporary resident of Beldangi-I, E-1/153 from the camp.

According to Majhi, Punam, who was at large since the murder of Ramesh Subba, former camp secretary of the same cap, was in their ‘wanted-list’. Majhi further informed BNS that Punam has admitted her involvement with the URFB but she refuted her hands in Subba murder.

By Arjun Pradhan/BNS

Road Safety And Transport Authority (RSTA) of Bhutan has eventually decided to give some relief to its people by implementing an e-registration and licensing information system this month.

Funded by the Indian government, the newly introduced system has been expected to save people from having to wait in queues for hours, and sometimes even weeks to solve their vehicle paper works. This e-registration system will also save people’s time from traveling to one of the four regional road safety offices  just for their vehicle registration. This will further help people to register online for the driving test.

According to Samdrupjongkhar assistant regional transport officer Kinga Gyeltshen,  although regional offices had server connections, the problem arose when road safety officials wanted to check records of a particular vehicle in Samdrupjongkhar, which might be registered in Phuentsholing. However, the new system will solve these issues.

The online system will also help trace information like renewal of vehicles, and providing information on road blockages, as the base in charge would update such information online.

Although the newly introduced system of e-registration has been greeted by the people enthusiastically, RSTA’s  first initiative in 2007 to launch a system for checking availability of bus tickets online, and tracking the movement of passenger bus service in the country could not be materalized until today.

Yet their long journey—nearly 450 miles (6 hour’s one way by car), was an evidence to back our frequent-say that ‘Bhutanese in Diaspora’ are committed towards preserving their long-practiced culture and tradition; thanks god.

In an effort to preserve their old culture and tradition, more than 30 resettled Bhutanese from North Dakota, where temples are not yet built, recently visited a Hindu temple in their neighboring State, Minnesota.

Their Minnesota-based fellow Bhutanese friends warmly greeted them and assisted possible help. “We are very excited to see our fellow Bhutanese friends on this occasion,” said a woman in a smiling complexion.

When the group reached the Minnesota Hindu Temple, it had actually healed their tiredness following the six-hour long continuous one-way journey. Ganga Lamitary, who was a lead player to guide the team, said, “It’s a great pleasure to meet Bhutanese friends wherever we go, whatever we do but we should never forget the fact that we are Bhutanese and we will remain Bhutanese forever.

On the occasion, Lamitaray further pointed out the necessity to promote our identity. “We should not hesitate to introduce ourselves as Bhutanese American,” added Lamitaray. Meanwhile, Dr. Shani at the Minnesota Hindu Temple emphasized on empowering Bhutanese community.

Their effort to make such a long journey to reach a nearby Hindu temple, miles away from their hometown, clearly speaks of the fact that ‘where there is will there is a way’.

By Bikash Dhakal/Minnesota for BNS