A top member of the separatist group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa) was apprehended by the police in Ukhiya upazila, Cox’s Bazar.
The Deputy Captain of APBn-14, Superintendent of Police Md Arefin Jewel, shared this information during a press briefing held at the 14-APBn office in Ukhiya on Thursday afternoon.
According to undisclosed sources, a team from 14-APBn carried out an operation in the extended part of Rohingya camp No. 20 in Ukhiya on Wednesday night. Amid the operation, Abdullah, a prominent member of Arsa, was apprehended. He was found in possession of five weapons, both domestic and foreign.
Arefin Jewel reported that individuals from the separatist group were plotting to provoke further turmoil and disrupt the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh, taking advantage of the ongoing conflict in Rakhine, Myanmar. There have been recent incidents of clashes and tensions in the camps involving Rohingya-based separatist groups.
After Abdullah’s interrogation, a raid took place late Wednesday night in the slope area of Lal Pahar near Rohingya Camp No. 20. A raid was conducted and a significant number of firearms and ammunition were seized. The recovered items included various types of rifles, rifle bullets, and casings for rifles and pistols.
The press briefing also disclosed that Abdullah is currently facing eight murder cases, along with accusations of inciting unrest and sabotage within the camp.
The Superintendent of Police, Arefin Jewel, has made it clear that any attempts to disrupt the camps, especially in light of the Rakhine conflict, will not be tolerated. The police camp is maintaining a state of heightened vigilance in this matter.
