New Delhi, June 1:

India today said the issue related with the Bhutanese refugees is purely a bilateral one between Nepal and Bhutan and hoped that both countries would be able to resolve the crisis soon.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs, issuing a press release, today said that the subject of Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal was a bilateral issue between Nepal and Bhutan and that India was hopeful both countries would be able to resolve this humanitarian problem soon through talks.

The Ministry also said that security was beefed up along the Indo-Nepal border after the incident on Mechi bridge on May 30. “The Indian security officials have stepped up security measures along the border for maintaining law and order and we are in constant contact with the government of Nepal in this regard”, the press release said.

Meanwhile, traffic resumed along the Indo-Nepal border. The border was sealed after the Bhutanese refugees tried to return home via India. “Road traffic, disrupted since the last four days, resumed this morning,” said Darjeeling district magistrate Rajesh Pandey.