SARBHANG

3 January, 2009 - The United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan, believed to be the militant arm of the Nepal-based Communist Party of Bhutan, has claimed responsibility for the attack on Bhutanese forest guards, in which four were killed and two injured.

The Bhutanese foresters were killed and injured on December 30 in Sarpang, after their tractor was blown up by an improvised explosive device planted on the road about four km west of Singay village in Sarpang.

The six foresters were going from Sarpang to their camp in Phibsoo when the device exploded at about 3:00 pm. The attackers then fired at them, killing four on the spot, and burned their bodies using the tractor tyres.

One forester escaped, with two bullet wounds, to Singay village and informed the police. Another injured forester hid in the jungle until rescued by a search team at 10:00 pm. Both are being treated at the Gelephu hospital.

The militants took away two SLR rifles with 40 rounds and a motorola handset used by forest personnel.