LONDON, Dec 23: Amnesty International is seriously concerned about reports that civilians have been caught up in a military offensive by the Royal Bhutanese Army (RBA) targeting camps belonging to the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), separatist groups from northeast India with military bases in southern Bhutan.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the Amnesty said that it understood that parts of the border between Bhutan and India had been sealed, and a five kilometre zone on each side of the border established where entry was denied.

“The Bhutanese and Indian authorities must allow immediate access to the border area to international observers and relevant humanitarian agencies, AI urged.