2003 South Bhutan clashes

Series of clashes in South Bhutan the Royal Bhutan Army operation against insurgents in South Bhutan in 2003 Operation All Clear August 2003 South Bhutan Clashes Insurgency in Northeast India, Southern Bhutan Insurgency 3 August 2003 – 10 August 2003 Southern Bhutan Samdrup Jongkhar District Inconclusive The Bhutanese government would begin an operation against ULFA and allies in Southern Bhutan 4 months later 22px ULFA Supported by: 22px NDFB 22px KLO 22px NSCN 22px ATTF 22px BLTFhttp://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/assam/terrorist_outfits/bltf.htm Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) – Former Terrorist Group of Assam SATP 24 October 2014http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/bhutan/backgrounders/index.html Bhutan Backgrounder SATP 24 October 2014 22px MULTAAssessing Bhutan's Operation All Clear https://idsa.in/system/files/strategicanalysis_pkumar_0904.pdf 9 September 2004 idsa.in 6 April 2023 Unidentified Gunmen 22px Indian Security Forces (alleged by ULFA) SULFA (alleged by ULFA) Kingdom of Bhutan (alleged) 22px Royal Bhutan Army 22px Royal Bhutan Police 22px Arabinda Rajkhowa 22px Bhimkanta Buragohain 22px Mithinga Daimary 22px Rahul Datta Tibet Commander Tenzing " T.T " Wangchuk Kingdom of Sikkim Commander Adon " P " Lepcha Bhutan Commander Jigmed Tshering Bhutia Nepal Sgt. Khushal Kritin Pokhrel Kingdom of Sikkim Sgt. Karma " Egg " Gyurme Unknown 40–67+ 7–9+ killedhttps://satp.org/terrorist-activity/bhutan-Aug-2003 Timeline Terrorist Activities, Bhutan April 5, 2023 satp.org Institute for Conflict Management April 5, 2023At least 5 woundedhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3122117.stm Gunmen kill India rebels in Bhutan Subir Bhaumik news.bbc.co.uk 4 August 2003 British Broadcasting Company April 5, 2023 At least 4 killed The August 2003 South Bhutan Clashes were a series of clashes between ULFA militants and unidentified gunmen in Southern Bhutan. The clashes left at least 11 people dead and dozens injured. While the incidents were scarcely reported at the time, many believe they were the first instances of Bhutanese strikes against ULFA militants in the country's south, and tensions between ULFA, allied Assamese separatist groups, and Bhutan would lead to a full-fledged conflict breaking out just four months later. Background In 1990, India launched Operations Rhino and Bajrang against Assam separatist groups, which caused the militants to relocate their camps to Bhutan. In the 1990s, ULFA and NDFB, two groups targeted by the Indian operations, allegedly assisted the government of Bhutan in expelling the ethnic Lhotshampa population and occupied the abandoned land.http://www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/rdv10n1/assam.htm The military Offensive against ULFA Anand Swaroop Verma Revolutionary Democracy April 2004 11 September 2014 In 1996, Bhutan discovered a large number of camps on its southern border with India, which were set up by various separatist movements including ULFA, NDFB, BLTF, and KLO. These camps were used to train cadres and store equipment while allowing militants to launch attacks into Indian territory.http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/02/09/Nation/HSEB-to-appoint-new-teachers/4979/ Operation All Clear: Bhutan's step for regional security Anand Kumar Kathmandu Post 25 December 2003 5 September 2014 7 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140907005528/http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/02/09/Nation/HSEB-to-appoint-new-teachers/4979/ dead India exerted diplomatic pressure on Bhutan and offered support in removing rebel organizations from its soil. Bhutan initially pursued a peaceful solution and opened dialogue with militant groups in 1998. ULFA agreed to close down four of its camps in June 2001, but the Bhutanese government soon discovered that the camps had merely been relocated. Furthermore, ULFA allegedly helped to create several militant groups in southern Bhutan with the help of Nepali Maoists, KLO, and the NDFB, including the BTF and BGLF. This caused Bhutan to become even more concerned and further justified an anti-Assamese separatist operation. Bhutanese parliamentarians began to propose raising the number of Bhutanese militia and introducing conscription, motions which were soon dismissed. Clashes August 3–4 Starting in either August 3 or 4th (reports are unclear), an attack was launched by over 15 unidentified gunmen on a base of the Assamese separatist group, United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), in Kinzo, leaving two ULFA members dead. Sometime later on 4 August, between 10 and 12 unidentified gunmen attacked another ULFA hideout in Babang, resulting in the deaths of four gunmen and 1-3 ULFA fighters. Both the Samdrup Jongkhar district officials and the ULFA's publicity department confirmed the attacks. August 10 According to a media report from August 13, a group of approximately 40 unidentified gunmen attacked a hideout belonging to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in Tiluka, Bhutan on August 10. The assault resulted in the death of four ULFA cadres and left five others injured, with casualties amongst the unidentified gunmen unknown. Indian authorities confirmed the attack shortly after. Identity of the Attackers The attacks sparked controversy over the identities of the armed groups involved in the attacks. ULFA blamed Indian security agencies and surrendered ULFA (SULFA) members for the attacks on their hideouts, believing that the attacks were organized in India. However, Indian officials attributed the violence to infighting within various ULFA factions. Other reports suggested that the attackers could be part of a special force raised by the Bhutanese army under Indian guidance, or even local vigilante groups. Aftermath The spate of attacks on ULFA hideouts in southern Bhutan and Bhutanese government reactions to it demonstrated the state of the deterioration of Bhutanese-ULFA relations. While no known clashes occurred after August 10, several reports indicate that violence may have continued throughout the following months.https://satp.org/terrorist-activity/bhutan-Nov-2003 Timeline Terrorist Activities, Bhutan satp.org Institute for Conflict Management April 6, 2023 On December 15, 2003, Bhutan would launch a campaign to expel ULFA and other allied Assamese separatist groups from Southern Bhutan, with Indian assistance.https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article30220789.ece The Hindu M.S. Prabhakara CRACKDOWN IN BHUTAN 16 Jan 2004 6 April 2023 References External links Category:2003 in Bhutan Category:2003 conflicts Category:December 2003 in Asia Category:2000s in Assam Category:Bhutan–India relations Category:Military history of Bhutan Category:Wars involving Bhutan Category:Insurgency in Northeast India