Saturday, February 5 2005 17:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Guwahati: Bhutan Ministry of Home and Cultural Affair joint secretary Dasho Tsering Wangda today (Feb 05, 2005) said that his kingdom feared attacks from Indian militants on its people post Royal Bhutan Army operations against the ULFA (United Liberation front of Assam), NDFB (National Democratic Front of Bodoland) and KLO (Kamtapur Liberation Organisation) in December 2003.

"There is reason to worry as we do not know where they (militants) hide in Indian territories. Isn't it natural the threat still persists," said Wangda responding to reporters queries in Guwahati if Bhutan feared attacks from Indian rebels.

On the possibility of the Indian extremists going back to his country to set up camps again, Wangda said that both Bhutan and Assam had agreed that the Himalayan kingdom would not allow its soil to be used by Indian insurgents.

To prevent the guerrilla's re-entry, he said that the district and State level committee meetings between Bhutan and Assam had been reactivated to meet regularly as and when the necessity arose to tackle the situation.

Pointing out both his Government and people were unhappy that they had to move with SSB escort to and fro the border, Wangda said, both Bhutan and Assam were now working towards restoring normalcy within the shortest possible time.

Wangda was in Guwahati leading a 17-member delegation to the two-day border coordination meeting between Bhutan and Assam that concluded today.