February 13: The Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) have apprehended six militants in Sengye gewog under Sarpang district between February 5-7.

They are Birkha Bahadur Chettri, Kumar Gautam Chettri, Gobind Nirola, Sukman Mongar, Nandalal Basnet and Khagendra Khanal. They have confessed that they are cadres of the Communist Party of Bhutan based in Nepal.

They said 14 of them had entered Bhutan on December 14 from Assam and set up a camp at Budunikhola in Sengye gewog under Sarpang district. Of the 14 militants, five had returned to Nepal and three including the leader of the camp, Sagar Rai, are still at large.

The militants said they were sent by their leaders in Nepal to establish militant camps inside Bhutan and spread the communist ideology in the villages for an armed rebellion against the government.

Meanwhile on February 2, the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) apprehended Ganeshyam Gurung of Baragumti village under Dagana district for involvement in the bomb blast at Dagapela on January 20.

According to a news release, Ganeshyam has confessed that the bomb blast at Dagapela was carried out by Ramesh Subba, Kancha Tamang, and Kancha Rai, militants from the camps in Nepal. He escorted the militants to Dagapela on January 20 and went into hiding after the blast.

The Royal Bhutan Police have also apprehended seven persons of Sengye gewog under Sarpang district and two persons of Ranga village under Dagana district for providing food and shelter to the militants.

They are also being charged for withholding information about the militants from government officials and security forces.