9 Rohingya ‘robbers’ held from Teknaf refugee camp
RAB also seized four locally made firearms, 20 bullets and some machetes from the men
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained nine Rohingya men along with weapons from a refugee camp in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar, for their reported involvement in robberies.
Confirming the matter, RAB-15 Deputy Commander Major Mehedi Hasan told The Business Standard that the men were detained from a robbers' hideout in the Chakmarkul Refugee Camp on Tuesday morning.
The detainees are – Rashid Ahmed, 32; Salim Ullah, 55; Shafiq Alam, 20; Abdul Hamid, 20; Md Saber, 32; Md Salam, 50; Md Ismail, 25, Harunur Rashid, 28; and Fayez, 22. The men hailed from the Kutupalong Refugee Camp in Ukhiya.
Providing more details, Major Mehedi said, "A RAB team conducted a raid on a tip off that a gang of Rohingya robbers from Kutupalong has taken shelter on a hill in the Chakmarkul refugee camp. We detained nine Rohingya men in that drive.
"RAB also seized four locally made firearms, 20 bullets and some machetes from the men. They have been involved in a number of criminal activities in the area."
He continued, "So far, five people including a woman had died in the Kutupalong Rohingya Camp in separate incidents of gunfights and clashes this year. So, RAB conducted several raids in different refugee camps to catch the robbers.
"Alerted by the raids, the Rohingya robbers escaped from Kutupalong and took shelter in the Chakmarkul camp. A RAB team then detained them from this camp."
He added that the men and the seized weapons have been handed over to the Teknaf police station, and a case has been filed under the relevant law.