Silent but not dead

Thimphu: Lately there have been talks about gangs regrouping in Thimphu. Sights of boys roaming in the streets dressed similarly in groups are not new. But some of the residents say they have also seen group of boys indulged in fights even during broad daylight.

The recent arrest of 10 boys in Thimphu from a school, for involving in a gang fight during school hours has raised eyebrows.
It was said that the fight was a result of an unsettled fight which had earlier taken place.

“Have the police really been successful in disbanding the gangs or did they celebrate victory too fast?” questioned a concerned Thimphu resident.
“It was during one Sunday, I was walking in town when I suddenly felt tremors. I looked back and saw that a group of boys was chasing a boy. He nearly got hit by a vehicle but he kept on running,” said an eye witness who had seen a gang chase after a boy.

Eight months after the two notorious gangs in Thimphu, MB Boys and Shabji Bazaar Gang, signed a pledge to disband, the Anti Gang Squad said that they have not received any complaints of gangs other than the 10 students involved in a gang fight in school.

However, a resident of Shabji bazaar said that he had heard of a gang fight which occurred in his locality. Although he had not seen it personally he confirmed that it happened. “A group of boys had beaten up a boy in Thimphu, so the boy had asked his friends to back him up to take revenge. The other group had come all the way from Paro for the fight,” he said.

He said that such trend will keep happening until the two groups decide to settle thing mutually. “The ones who get hurt in a fight always keep looking for an opportunity to get back,” he said.

A former gang member said that some gangs did not disband and are still operating. He said that a few new gangs have also come into existence.

A group calling themselves F4D, fight for defence, is becoming powerful and creating problems according to sources. An officer from the Anti Gang Squad said that this is not a new gang.

There are talks about MB Boys being revitalized by the younger gang members but Kencho Chophel , the ex- leader of the gang said he was not aware of it. “They must be other boys using the name,” he said. He added that ever since the gang was disbanded he has not been in contact with most of his friends.

A new gang “Warriors,” is taking shape in Paro according to sources.
“The gangs have just been silent for a while, but they were never dead,” said another Thimphu resident.

Meanwhile, some of the prominent ex-members of the disbanded gangs are either employed, undergoing trainings or studying.