Police in Mongar installed a solar powered wild animal repeller sensor device at the Jarung Khashor choeten below the football ground in the town yesterday.

This, according to the officer-in-command (OC), Major Sonam Tobgay, is a pilot project to protect choetens and detect vandalism.

The device is placed within 10 meters of the choeten and when the motion sensor is on, it produces sound of wild animals.

Major Sonam Tobgay said that there are five more such devices, including ultrasonic insect repellers.

While one device was installed in Mongar gewog, the other three devices were installed in Saling, Ngatshang, Drametse and Tsakaling gewogs.

Police claimed that when someone or somthing touches the bumpa in the choeten, the device will make a sound.

Mongar dzongkhag recorded one of the highest choeten vandalism cases in the country. In 2014, about 40 men vandalised more than 50 choetens and in 2016 and 2017, 13 men vandalised more than 90 choetens.

Major Sonam Tobgay said that although Bhutan is a religious country, people vandalise choeten, which carries a life sentence. “We will see if we can deter people from vandalizing choeten through this pilot project.”

He said that if the project proves successful, all gewogs would be made to procure and install the sensor device.

Tashi Phuntsho | Mongar