ARSA behind the recent murders in Rohingya camps

Amid the armed conflicts along the border over the last two months, gang members living in the no-man's-land entered Bangladesh and engaged in criminal activities, including murders, at the refugee camps, police and locals said.

Most of them entered through the borders in Dhosori and Tambru areas in Bandarban's Naikkhangchhari upazila, they added.

As law enforcers launched an operation near midnight on Friday, officers said they had information that members of  the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) were behind most of the crimes.

At least 41 Rohingyas, including six accused in murder cases, were arrested in the seven-hour raid that went on until yesterday morning.

APBn-8, APBn-14, APBn-16 and Cox's Bazar district police conducted the first raid of "Operation Root Out", said Faruk Ahmmed, assistant superintendent of APBn-8.

Armed Police Battalion (APBn) officers said at least seven people were killed this month.

Amir Zafar, commanding officer of APBn-8, said the combined operation would continue.

"There were some criminal gangs in the no-man's-land that entered Bangladesh," said Zafar, also an additional deputy inspector general of police.

The suspects probably belong to groups like ARSA, RSO and Islamic Mahaj, he said. "But we are mostly hearing the name of ARSA as being involved in the crimes. These criminals prowl the camps at night."

A high official of the APBn said some eight to 10 ARSA men were leading the criminal activities.

"We have the details of their identity, but failed to track them down because they went into hiding in the hilly and remote areas," said the official, requesting anonymity.

Contacted, Lt Col Foyezur Rahman, director (operations) of Border Guard Bangladesh, did not directly say anything about the illegal entry through the borders.

The force responsible to ensure security at refugee camps will be able to say, he added.

The main target of the criminal groups are the people who support Rohingya repatriation, sources said.

The presence of Islamic Mahaj members first came into discussions on September 28 after a Rohingya man on Facebook live said he was an activist of the outfit and that he killed four people, including three community leaders (Majhi).

However, law enforcers later said they found no evidence supporting the claim.

A Rohingya community leader, requesting anonymity, said he was aware of the presence of Islamic Mahaj operatives, but they did not have as many firearms as ARSA operatives do.

"They are now trying to gather weapons and funds," he said.

The combined operation brings some relief to the Rohingya people, he added.

Sayed Harun Or Rashid, additional deputy inspector general of APBn-14, said the special operation will continue based on information on criminal activities.