'Maoists a new cross-border concern'

Spread of Maoists in the Indian sub-continent appears to be the next biggest concern after the insurgency problem for the governments.

The third secretary-level meeting of Indo-Bhutan border security management group held here on Thursday specifically focussed on this issue.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Dasho Penden Wangchuk, secretary of home and cultural affairs of the Bhutan government, said the meeting focussed on how to keep Maoists away from their kingdom, which was so far free from the Left-wing insurgency.

Reacting to a question, D K Sankaran, secretary, border security management, Union home affairs, said that no Indian insurgency group has been operating from across the Bhutanese borders following the major offensive launched against these groups by the Royal Bhutan government in December 2003. Prior to the offensive, over four Indian insurgency groups including ULFA had camps in Bhutan, he said.

"Virtually, we are not having any problems across our borders at present," Penden said, adding that even the good relations needed to be renewed by constant interaction and communication.

According to Penden, over 23 Bhutanese officers have been trained in India so far, and two are now undergoing IPS training at the National Police Academy in Hyderabad.