Damak, November 12:

Sixty-two Bhutanese refugees living in Beldangi-1 camp in Jhapa district have appealed to the police to protect them after they received death threats from the underground Bhutanese Republican Youth Union and the All Bhutan Revolutionary Students’ Union.

Chhabilal Thapa, Moti-khar Gurung, Arjun Subba, Dilip Kumar Dahal, Ram Rai, Bhim Subedi, Kiran Subba, Lok Nath Adhikari, Buddhiman Gurung, Sakun Subba and NP Koirala are among those who have made the appeals to the officials of the camp supervision post, Armed Police Force and the OHCHR. All of them are in favour of settling in the US and they received the threat on that account.

The two organisations close to the Bhutan Communist Party have also threatened the refugees to leave the camp within 15 days, failing which they will be eliminated physically or abducted. The two groups have also told the refugees that they will be forgiven and allowed to remain in peace if they recant from their pro-US settlement stance.

DSP of APF Raj Kumar Lamichhane said a probe has been initiated and that a search has been launched for those issuing the threats.