January 3: The United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan has claimed responsibility for the brutal attack in Sarpang in which four forestry personnel were killed.

According to police, the United Revolutionary Front is one of the two militant wings of an organization which calls itself the Bhutan Communist Party. The other wing is the Bhutan Tiger Force.

Four forestry personnel were killed and two others seriously injured in the attack on Tuesday. They were returning to their camp in Phibsoo in a tractor from Sarpang after purchasing vegetables when the incident took place. Their tractor was blown up by an improvised devise planted on the road. The attackers then fired at them killing the four forestry personnel on the spot. The militants also burned their bodies using the tractor tyres.

One of the forestry personnel managed to escape and inform the police after reaching Singay village though he was seriously injured in the attack.

Singay village is located about four kilometers from where the attack took place. The second injured forestry personnel hid in the jungle. He was later rescued by a search team.

The militants also took away two SLR rifles with 40 rounds of ammunition and a Motorola hand set carried by forestry personnel.