The outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland is trying to re-establish its base in Bhutan with the help of Bhupali Maoists, an insurgent group of Nepali migrants in Bhutan.
Saying NDFB “military commander” I.K. Songbijit had roped in Bhupali Maoist commanders, home ministry sources told this newspaper the two outfits were not only operating jointly, each was also helping provide shelter to the other.
Noting there had been five kidnapping incidents since June, including two inside Indian territory, the security sources said all these were carried out jointly by NDFB rebels and Bhupali Maoists for extortion.
They said the Bhutan government had already been told of this growing nexus. It is suespected that the NDFB is supplying arms and ammunition, besides giving training, to the Bhupali Maoists.
The sources said the Bhupali Maoists may be getting Nepalese support too. It is suspected that Songbijit, who is operating from Burma, has been using bases in Bhutan to hide people taken hostage by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland in Assam.