Two exiled Bhutanese under Indian police custody

Kakarvitta, June 03: Though it was agreed to release all those arrested from Mechi Bridge during the 'Long March' last week, Indian police are still detaining two exiled Bhutanese.

Chetan Khanal and Dilip Rai, two wounded exiled Bhutanese youths who were apprehended by the Indian security officials from the Mechi Bridge on the Nepal-India border on Wednesday, have been detained in Panitanki, the bordering Indian town. The West Bengal police have filed a case accusing them of 'disrupting' security in international borders.

They are undergoing treatment at a hospital in India under police supervision.

Exiled Bhutanese leaders said the Indian police were keeping them against the understanding reached at a meeting last week with the Nepalese side, which comprised of administrative officials and representatives from the Bhutanese community in exile. 14 detainees were released following the understanding.

D. P. Kafle of People's Forum for Human Rights in Bhutan (PFHRB) said that during negotiation with them on Saturday, Indian police officials had assured that the charge against the two would be withdrawn and that they might be released soon. Bhutan News Service