Samdrup Jongkhar (Bhutan): The Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) today (Dec 20, 2003) marched ahead with its operations to flush out the Northeast separatist insurgents from its territory, trapping in its dragnet top United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) leaders Robin Neog and Bening Rabha.

Senior ULFA military wing leader "Major" Robin Neog, who surrendered before the RBA, had earlier negotiated with the Bhutan Government on moving out his outfit's camps from the country.

Associated with the ULFA since its formation on April 7, 1979, at Rangghar in Sibsagar district, another of its "Major" and military strategist Bening Rabha was captured by the RBA yesterday.

Considered at par with ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, Rabha was the commander of the organisation's crack mobile "Enigma group" and in charge of the Front's camps in Bhutan.

The RBA has already smashed 30 camps of the three militant groups – ULFA, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) – in Bhutan and seized huge cache of arms and ammunition.

Unconfirmed reports claimed that a RBA convoy was ambushed by militants killing a jawan and one civilian – computer engineer – identified as Siring Dorjee at Morang yesterday.

PTI