Security: More than a month after the Alipurduar district police nabbed eight men involved in robbing Bhutanese commuters along the highway, people have now regained confidence in using the road again.

Kuensel learnt that there has been no complaint and new occurrences of robbery since then.

The officer-in-charge with the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) in Lhamoizingkha, Chador Namgay, said there haven’t been any incidents reported after the robbers were caught last month.

Police officials in Samtse also confirmed that there were no new cases reported.

However, officials said commuters should remain cautious and careful while travelling.

The miscreants had told police of having robbed 15 Bhutanese along the highway to date.  Police in Alipurduar had recovered 18 mobiles, three laptops, a gold piece, a gold ring, and Nu 25,000.

Bhutanese were robbed in broad daylight on the highways in Alupurduar and Madarihaat.

While the highway may have become safe, those affected are unsure if they would get back the belongings they were robbed off earlier.

One of the victims said the officials told him that their belongings and cash would be returned within a week.

“But, we haven’t heard anything, as of now,” he said, adding that he and his friends have now stopped hoping. “We also don’t feel like asking again, since the culprits are caught.”

Another victim, a Samtse resident, also said that there was no news on his belongings.  He said he was robbed off Nu 3,500 and that it didn’t make much of a difference.

“I was called to identify the culprits,” he said. “I identified four from the eight involved.”

By Rajesh Rai

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