Reports coming in from Bhutan said that at least one Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) soldier was killed reportedly during a cross-firing at Patabari, Leopani of Sarpang district on Sunday morning.
The state-owned Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) suspected the involved of one of the underground armed outfits, United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan (URFB) based in Jhapa.
However, another group Bhutan United Socialist Democratic Party (BUSDP) has owned up the responsibility.
In a circular issued this afternoon, Press and Publicity Secretary of BUSDP, Puskar, stated that the group attached the RBA patrolling team of around 10 soldiers at 6:15 am on Sunday killing at least two on the spot.
The BBS reported that 18 shells fired from an AK 47 rifle were recovered from the scene. A home-made gun or Khaduwa, a camouflage bag, a cap, small bag, torch light, rain coat and gun powder were also found.
The statement also claimed that RBA indiscriminately fired at cadres of BUSDP. “There was no any casualty on the side of our cadres when they retaliated,” said Puskar.
The statement further said that BUSDP was compelled by the circumstances of adamant stand of the Government of Bhutan in not resolving the long standing southern Bhutanese problem thereby ignoring repatriation of exiled Bhutanese.
“Relatives of refugees, who number about 80000 are made to live with uncertainty in different census category and permanently deprived of all government opportunities,” added the statement.
The BUSDP that appeared in the scenic since April 16 this year also warned Bhutan not to underestimate the group’s strength like others in the past.
