IED planted by Maoist militants: RBA

home Blast Update 16 October, 2009 - The militants, who planted an improvised explosive device in a bunker in Gaden village, Umling, were Maoist militants from Beldangi refugee camp in Jhapa, Nepal, according to the royal Bhutan army (RBA).

The device, which exploded at around 6:40 am on October 12, injured two RBA soldiers.

The RBA has identified the two militants as Nirpa Raj Rai and Bhim Raj Subedi. They were assisted by Rajeev Boro, a NDFB militant of Rangjihora, Bogaigaon, Assam, according to a press release from the RBA. The Gelephu police have requested the SSB and the Assam police to apprehend the militants, who had entered their territory after the incident.

According to RBA, the militants had planted the explosive device at night. The villagers saw some men running towards the border after the explosion. The militants took away two riffles carried by the soldiers.

By Kinga Dema

Read Users' Comments (0)

29 teenage pregnancies reported in Sarpang this year alone

October 21: Of the 29 teenage pregnant teenage girls in Sarpang this year, 12 were in Gelephu. According to records maintained by the Gelephu regional hospital, of the 12 pregnant girls, some were school students.

Two girls in Gelephu Lower Secondary School aged 14 and 18 years had to leave school after they were found to be pregnant recently. Both were studying in class six.

Another girl, a class six student of Dechenpelri Primary School had also been found pregnant.

Our reporter Pema Samdrup says some of the girls could have become pregnant after getting married. While teenage marriage is not rampant, it does exist mainly in rural areas.

Four students from Norbuling Middle Secondary school have quit school. The reason why they left school is not known. School authorities said their reasons were varied and genuine.

Pelrithang Middle Secondary School also saw 14 students dropping out. Of that four were girls. Here too the reason is not known.

School Authorities said lack of parental guidance could be one of the reasons for teenage pregnancy.

Read Users' Comments (0)

Ultra sound machine in Gelephu hospital not used



October 21:
The Ultra sound machine at the Gelephu Regional Referral hospital has been kept unused since August leaving many patients inaccessible to the facility.

Many patients therefore have to either travel to the national referral hospital in Thimphu or visit hospitals in the nearby Dzongkhags. Some even visit hospitals in the neighboring state of Assam to get their diseases diagnosed.

Some patients BBS spoke to said that it is expensive to travel outside the Dzongkhag and said the health ministry should look into resuming the ultra sound service soon.

The Officiating Medical officer in at the hospital said that the main technician operating the ultra sound machine is out of station for two years on further studies. Karma Yeshey however said that they have submitted a proposal to the ministry asking for an immediate replacement.

Our reporter Pema Samdrup in Gelephu says about 300-400 patients visit the regional hospital everyday.

Patients from the region in Tsirang, Dagana, Zhemgang and Sarpang also referred to at the regional hospital in Gelephu.

Read Users' Comments (0)