Guwahati, August 11 2009: Contrary to the claims made by Bhutan that Indian militants do not put their base anymore in that country, however, the intelligence agencies here claim that United Liberation Front of Asom ( ULFA ) and National Democratic Front of Bodolant (NDFB) militants have already set up temporary hideouts there.

This reports from the Indian intelligence agencies came at the backdrop of the claim at the Seventh Border Coordination Development Meeting held at Thimphu recently by Bhutan which dismissed reports about ULFA and NDFB militants setting up permanent camps on its soil.

But, it did not rule out occasional intrusion by them.

According to official sources in Giuwahati ULFA and NDFB militants were re-organising and attempting to sneak into Bhutan.

In fact, New Delhi has informed Thimphu of the intrusion of about 30 militants into its soil..

We have information that they (ULFA and NDFB) have set up temporary hideouts there in the wake of stepped up counter-insurgency operations especially in Lower Assam, an officer from the Military Intelligence (MI) disclosed NNN on condition of anonymity.

It is worth noting that police and para military forces gunned down over 60 NDFB militants in the past two months in Assam following reports that a group of 18 militants of the anti-talks Ranjan Daimari faction of NDFB sneaked into Assam from Bangladesh and were planning to trigger a series of blasts.

They have their presence there (Bhutan) though we dont have the exact number.

Or else why should there be so much of activities in places on the border inside India? the officer asked.

The source claimed that the militants were operating in collaboration with the Communist Party of Bhutan (ML), Bhutan Tiger Force and Revolutionary Youth of Bhutan.

Even Bhutan admitted that it had received reports that the two Assam-based insurgent groups were imparting training to these groups.

At the moment, an SSB battalion is manning the 272km long Indo-Bhutan border.

Sources said a section of the militants use Bhutanese vehicles to go across the border.

But police claimed the vehicles are regularly frisked.

Its not possible for the personnel to identify the militants given that a number of tribals from the Northeast, working in Border Roads Organization, banks, NTPC and in private sectors in Bhutan, travel in the vehicles everyday, the officer from the MI argued.

In may also be noted that in the 2003 Operation All Clear, conducted jointly by the Indian Army and the Royal Bhutanese Army, scores of rebel camps were busted inside Bhutan while a number of militants were killed and captured.

Since then, militants of the Northeast virtually lost their ground.

Rio welcomes corruption check move of Cong (Kohima): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has welcomed the suggestion of the Union Minister for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs and All India Congress Committee general secretary, Narayanaswami to form a committee in order to check misuse of centrally allotted funds in the State.

Interacting with media persons on the sidelines of inauguration of a Multipurpose Spo rts Hall at Indira Gandhi Stadium, here today, Rio said, 'We welcome the statement of the Union Minister in saying that they (Congress) will form a committee to check corruption in the State.

However, he said that, they should be specific in pointing out the anomalies and not blindly cast aspersion.

Admitting that there could be some slackness in the performance, he said, We are ready to make necessary correction if the wrong doings are pointed out.

Comment