KLO active in Nepal: sources

Prashant Acharya, EOI, Siliguri, 16 Jun 2014: Even as the Bhutanese government assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi of flushing out anti-insurgents groups including the Kamtapuri Liberation Organisation from its territory, Jhapa district of Nepal is becoming a safe haven for members of various underground armed outfits of India, say sources from Nepal.

In February of this year, the Siliguri police claimed of arresting KLO second-in-command Tom Adhikari and the outfit’s finance secretary Nilambar Rajbongshi near Siliguri, but the sources claimed the duo was caught in Kakarvitta.

They further said Tarun Thapa, Pratip Raya and Ramshankar Prasad, all suspected KLO cadres, were caught inside Nepal on January 26 and subsequently handed over to the Indian police. The sources added Indian Maoists held several meetings in eastern Nepal just a few days ago.

When asked for his comments on this, Nepal Armed Police DSP LN Khanal said, “As we have not received any correspondence from the Indian government on the matter, we have no objection if any group holds meetings in Nepalese territory as long as the treaty between the two countries is not violated. But we will definitely make a move if India requests us to take action.”