SARBHANG

11 September 2009

Nine armed miscreants robbed four houses in Darjaythang in Sarpang Dzongkhag yesterday between 1.30 am and 2 am.

The villagers were robbed of gold chains, necklaces, cash, kiras, citizenship identity cards, voting cards, route permits, mobile phones, silver bangle, good earrings, tape recorder, wrist watches, quilts, and bags.

The miscreants manhandled and beat up the villagers with rifle butts.

Former Chhimi of Darjaythang reported the case to the Police at 2.15 am. Immediately, the police personnel visited the village.

According to victims – Nima Singh Tamang, Purney Maya Sharma, Bhaktiram Archarya, Pushpa Lal Phokhrel, Doli Maya Tamang and Hemlal Adhikari – the robbers were dressed in civil clothes and slippers and were armed with pistols, khaduwa (handmade guns) and Khukuris.

They talked Mechi, a local dialect spoken by people across the border in India.

The RBP informed the SSB across the border about the incident and a case of armed robbery has been registered at Sarpang police station.

This is the fourth cross-border armed robbery reported, from Sarpang since January this year.

Last week, five armed men, all masked and dressed in camouflage uniforms, attacked the house of Garjaman Rai and Hastimaya Rai, where villagers had gathered for a ritual performed for Garjaman's sick grandchild. They robbed Nu 5000 from a local priest and took away two boxes, a wooden and metal box, containing silver coins, clothes and food items.

Last month, 10 Bodo militants, armed with AK-47 rifles, attacked Govind Prashad Pandal's house in Darjaythang.

Darjaythang is about 300 m from the Indian border.

Earlier, in June, a family in Norbugang, Sarpang, was robbed at gunpoint by armed men. They took away Nu 20,000, six citizenship identity and voter's cards, four cattle, silver coins and ornaments.

The victims told police that the robbers spoke Hindi and Nepali.

By Rabi C Dahal

source: Bhutan Observer