Coxs Bazar, June 10: In a violent clash over supremacy between two rival groups, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), three Rohingya men were hacked and shot dead at the Ukhiya refugee camp in Coxs Bazar on Monday. The deceased have been identified as Md Elias, 31; Md Ishaq, 54; and Firoz Khan, 18.
The incident, which left three others injured - Abdul Haque, 32; Abdus Shukkur, 55; and Abdul Monaf, 60 - highlights the ongoing struggle for dominance within the camp.
Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Md Iqbal, commanding officer of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) 14, stated that the conflict arose from efforts by ARSA to re-organise and assert control within the camp. "ARSA members are attempting to regroup and are planning sabotage activities in the Rohingya camps," he noted.
In response to the unrest, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) conducted a raid at the Ukhiya camp, resulting in the arrest of five ARSA members, including a top commander. Among those detained was Moulovi Akij, also known as Master Mohib Ullah, who is implicated in the murder of prominent Rohingya leader Mohammad Mohib Ullah and linked to numerous other criminal activities. Md Abu Salam Chowdhury, Additional Superintendent of Police and Senior Assistant Director (Law & Media) of Coxs Bazar RAB-15, revealed that Akij is accused in over 21 cases involving murder, abduction, and weapon charges. He is also a suspect in a high-profile case involving the killing of seven individuals within the camp.
The clash erupted as ARSA militants opened fire when RAB forces attempted to arrest them, leading to a firefight. "Acting on a tip-off, our team raided Camp No.4," said Chowdhury. "Upon sensing our presence, the ARSA militants opened fire, prompting our personnel to respond in self-defence. We subsequently arrested the five suspects and recovered several arms, ammunition, and explosives."
The bodies of the three victims were recovered, and the injured were transported to Coxs Bazar Sadar Hospital for medical treatment, according to Ukhiya Police Station Inspector Shamim Hossain.
