ARSA commander held with arms at Ukhiya Rohingya Camp

Myanmar's organisation Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA)'s commander Abdullah has been arrested with arms and ammunition following a raid by Armed Police Battalion (APBn) into an hideout in the hills of Ukhiya based on secret information.

There are eight cases including a murder case pending against ARSA commander Md Abdullah, 32. He is the son of Md Modasser of D-51 Block No. 3 Rohingya Camp under Ukhiya upazila.
APBn commander and additional deputy inspector general (ADIG) Mohammad Iqbal stated it at a press conference held at 14 APBn office at Ukhiya on Thursday afternoon.

He said several armed organisations are active in Myanmar centering the Rohingya Camp. Members of these organisations are involved in various crimes including expansion of their supremacy in the camps. There are eight cases including murder cases against ARSA's top commander Md Abdullah. He has been absconding for a long time in these cases.

Iqbal said being confirmed about the presence of Abdullah in a room at Ukhiya's No. 20 Extension of Rohingya Camp, the APBn conducted raid. At that time, he was in sleep. During his arrest, a pistol and two bullets were found searching his body. Another foreign made pistol was also found in a bag kept hanging beside his bed.

Then Abdullah was arrested and questioning under the APBn custody. Based on his information, the APBn raided into the Lal Pahar beyond the barbed-wire fences of Rohingya Camp in Ukhiya  and found three local made guns and 24 bullets kept hidden beneath the earth, ADIG Iqbal said.

He said on May 13 last, Rohingya boatman Mohammad Ilyas was killed in an attack of the rivals at Extension No. 4 of Rohingya Camp in Ukhiya. Abdullah was directly involved in the murder. He is also an FIR accused in that case. Besides, there are seven cases pending against Abdullah.