Six days after the launch of Operation All-Clear, the Bhutan Royal Army today claimed it had taken over all the camps that the three Indian insurgent groups — ULFA, NDFB and KLO — had set up in its southern districts during the past decade. Meanwhile, a 48-hour bandh called by the outfits to muster popular support in Assam failed to evoke much response. In Guwahati, offices recorded normal attendance, most schools and colleges remained open while public transport operated normally. Only banks and financial institutions and a section of shops remained closed. This is the first time in the past 15 years that a bandh sponsored by the ULFA has failed to evoke much response. In Thimpu, official Bhutanese sources said the camps belonging to the three groups were ‘‘well fortified’’ and the rebels were heavily armed, a reason why the inexperienced Bhutanese army suffered considerable losses. Though the exact number of militants killed is yet to be ascertained, intelligence sources put it between 120 and 150. Many top leaders of the three groups have been either captured, or have surrendered. Prominent among those killed are ULFA adviser and ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain, Captain Rahul Dutta and KLO chief Jiban Singha. Those who have surrendered or have been captured include senior ULFA leaders Mithinga Daimary, Bening Rabha and Robin Neog. NDFB publicity secretary B Erakdaw and KLO action squad chief Tom Adhikari and No 2 Milton Barman have been also captured. A division bench of the Gauhati HC as directed the Indian Army to produce Daimary before a magistrate in case he was in its custody. Daimary’s younger brother Nitul Kachari yesterday filed the petition saying his brother, who was captured by the Bhutan army, was handed over to the Indian Army, which had not handed him over to the police.
