Friday 15 August 2008

Bhutan : Policing of capital steps up a gear

14 August, 2008 - If you’re hanging around late in town, alone or with friends, be sure to carry your ID card because you just might get asked for it by a Thimphu policeman.

“Surprise checks on vagrants or anyone moving about at late hours will be conducted,” said a Thimphu police spokesperson.

Thimphu police is intensifying its night vigilance following various mugging incidents in the town in July.

During that month, police caught three Lungtenzampa middle secondary school students for attacking several Indian construction workers and robbing them of cash and mobile phones. In the same month, two other Indian labourers were assaulted by about ten boys in their twenties.

According to the police spokesperson, a private company employee was also robbed of his salary and a mobile phone by a group of seven youth in Motithang. He was beaten and left unconscious.

The spokesperson said that night patrolling in the past focused mostly on drug activities. “But we’ll also pay more attention to muggers now.” He added that more police would be called from headquarters to strengthen the city police team. The team will include traffic police, who’d check cars moving after 11 pm.

A police notification says that those, who fail to convince the patrolling team of his or her presence at a particular place and time, would be taken to the police station for questioning.

“This is not to harass people but to render all help possible,” said the spokesperson.

By Kesang Dema
kesang64@kuensel.com.bt

http://www.kuenselonline.com

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