Three ARSA members were arrested in a drive conducted by RAB-15
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Thursday arrested three members of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) from an inaccessible hilly area at Ukhiya upazila in Cox's Bazar district.
At that time, they seized a total of 22 pistols, 100 rounds of bullets, four mines, and a huge amount of mine-making equipment from their possessions.
Md Osman, Md Nesar, and Imam Hossain, residents of different camps in Ukhiya, were nabbed from Lal Pahar (Red Hill) adjacent to Camp No 20 (Extension) of Kutupalong.
RAB said Osman is a commander of an ARSA group and the other two are engaged in vital responsibilities for the group.
Seized firearms and ammunition
Lt Col HM Sajjad Hossain, captain of RAB-15 of Cox's Bazar Battalion, said, "The elite force, on a tip-off, conducted a long drive in Lal Pahar area from dawn to noon. At one stage, the RAB personnel surrounded an ARSA hideout and caught the trio red-handed along with the arms. However, several managed to flee the scene."
"A total of 12 'Gun Group' have been committing crimes and sabotages in the refuge camps by the order of group leader Ataullah. Osman is a commander of one group among them. Of the two others, Nesar is an expert in making mines and Imam is in opening fire, Captain Sajjad said.
He added the arrested trio were handed over to Ukhiya Police Station.
Notably, RAB arrested a total of 83 ARSA members from Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas in the district in the last one year.
