Bhutan Observer

August 12, 2007 - Samdrupcholing, Samdrup Jongkhar: A former Drimpon was killed when his neighbor, a lay monk, stabbed him with a dagger.

Dorji, 64, stabbed his neighbor, Karma, in front of the victim’s family in Thangchung Gonpa in a fit of anger during a minor quarrel on August 7 at around 7 pm.

Immediately after the incident, both Karma and Dorji (who was also injured in the fight) were rushed to the Samdrupcholing basic health unit. Karma died on the way to the Deothang military hospital, early morning. Dorji was later taken to Samdrup Jongkhar police station.

The victim, Karma, 47, on returning from a meeting that evening found his son, Tandin Gyamtsho, 19, being bullied by Dorji. The apple of discord was Dorji’s son Tshering who had been missing.

“We heard that his son was in Samdrup Jongkhar,” said Tandin Gyamtsho, “and I was telling him the same. But he started nagging me for no reason.”

Meanwhile, Karma appeared and the culprit picked up a quarrel with him. All of a sudden Dorji took out his dagger and stabbed Karma in front of the victim’s son, wife, mother and two others who had come to the family’s shop. [Source: BhutanTimes]

2007, August 10: Teenage Pregnancies and substance abuse are on the rise in Bumthang. This was revealed by the District Medical Officer Dr. Nima Wangchuk during an awareness campaign on teenage pregnancies and substance abuse conducted in Chummey middle secondary school.

In 2006, the Wangdicholing hospital provided antenatal service to nine teenage pregnant girls. They were all between 15 and 18 years. The figure this year has already reached seven.

The District Medical Officer, Dr. Nima Wangchuk told our reporter that all seven are undergoing regular antenatal checkup at the hospital. He said most of the teenage mothers are from broken families. In some cases they have been sexually abused and have had a traumatic childhood.

Doctors also found that most of them come from low socio-economic background and are usually poor in studies. Doctors say it is risky to become pregnant at an early age.

They say young mothers could die from pregnancy complications such as premature labor, still births and spontaneous miscarriages. At the awareness session, the District legal officer also talked about the legal aspects of teenage pregnancies and substance abuse.

About 400 students and teachers of Chummey Middle Secondary School took part in the session. The team led by the Dzongda will be conducting similar programs in all the schools in Bumthang. [Source: BBS]