Kathmandu, May 30:

Bhutanese refugee students burnt a photo of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in front of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu today to protest the killing of a Bhutanese refugee student by Indian police in Panitanki of West Bengal yesterday. They shouted slogans against Dr Singh and demanded safe passage to Bhutan.

Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Indian embassy Gopal Baglay told this daily that the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has not received any “formal information” about the development and agreements reached between Bhutanese refugees, political leaders of Nepal and Indian authorities in Panitanki. “The Indian Embassy here deals with the Nepal government only,” Baglay said. Another report said 11 Bhutanese refugees affiliated to the Communist Party of Bhutan were apprehended by Bhutan police in Samtse of Bhutan recently, Bhutan’s official website kuenselonline.com reported today.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) today condemned what it said was “intervention” by the West Bengal police in a peaceful rally being staged by Bhutanese refugees at Mechi bridge on Tuesday.