From correspondents in Thimphu, Bhutan, 01:00 AM IST

Thimphu - India and Bhutan have expressed concern over the growing nexus between Maoists and people lodged in camps in eastern Nepal.

'It is a confirmed fact that there is a growing nexus between Maoists and the people in the camps in eastern Nepal,' Bhutan Home Secretary Dasho Penden Wangchuk said after the fourth Bhutan-India border management and security meeting held here Friday.

'We also have information confirming radical elements from the camps in Nepal have received armed training from the Maoists,' Wangchuk was quoted as saying by Bhutan's national newspaper Kuensel.

He said in the wake of a series of bomb blasts and strikes in Assam since June there was a renewed apprehension in Bhutan of the likely dangers of reprisal attacks against Bhutanese people and interests.

He reiterated that Bhutan would not allow its soil to be used for carrying out activities that were detrimental to India's security interests.

B.S. Lalli, secretary (border management) in the ministry of home affairs, who headed the Indian delegation, said every step was being taken to ensure that elements hostile to Bhutan were not allowed to enter into the country.

'The situation is generally very peaceful. There have been some efforts on the part of some few elements to stage some demonstrations but no organised effort have taken place,' Lalli said.

According to him, India would continue to provide convoy protection duty to Bhutanese people travelling along the corridors connecting both the countries.

He said the presence of the Sashastra Seema Bal forces along the border would be increased from the present five battalions to 12.

'This will increase the border outposts to 132 and the idea is to carry out intensive patrolling at each stretch of the border.'

(Staff Writer, © IANS)