Law enforcement forces have arrested a commander of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and his associate during an operation in a Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar.
The arrestees have been identified as ARSA commander Mohammad Alam alias Musa, 40, and his associate Abdul Hafez, 22. They were apprehended from the Camp 6 area of the Ukhiya Rohingya refugee camp at around 9pm on Wednesday based on a tip off.
Mohammad Siraj Amin, the commanding officer (Additional DIG) of 14 Armed Police Battalion (APBN), who is tasked with maintaining law and order in the Rohingya camps, confirmed the development.
He added, “Based on secret information, we learned that ARSA commander Mohammad Alam alias Musa and his associate Abdul Hafez were staying in the Camp 6 area. Upon receiving the news, a drive was conducted there and the two were arrested. During primary interrogation, they confessed to being active members of ARSA’s armed organisation.”
According to APBN sources, Musa is the named accused number 29 in a murder case registered with Ukhiya Police Station. He also faces multiple cases at the Ukhiya Police Station on various charges, including murder, narcotics, and weapons.
Law enforcement records show that charge sheets have already been submitted against Musa in several of these cases, which are currently pending trial in court.
Musa had been absconding for a long time. He is accused of involvement in a range of criminal activities, including murder, abduction, drug trafficking, and weapons-related offences.
APBN Commanding Officer Siraj Amin added that the process of handing over the two arrestees to Ukhiya Police Station for further legal action is currently underway.
