22 firearms, 4 mines, 100 bullets recoveredARSA Gun Group commander among three arrested in Cox's Bazar

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested three members, including the Gun Group Commander, of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) from Ukhiya in Cox’s Bazar early on Thursday.

The force recovered 22 firearms, 100 bullets, four mines and a huge amount of mine-making equipment from them.

The arrestees are Osman Prokash Mogbazi Osman, 30, the commander of Gun Group, Mohammad Nesar, 33 and Imam Hossain, 22.

They were nabbed from Lal Pahar (Red Hill) adjacent to Camp No 20 (Extension) of Kutupalong.

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."

"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.

ANM Imran Khan, media officer-2 of the elite force, confirmed it to reporters.

The arrested men were involved in torching Rohingya camps. The arrested trio were handed over to Ukhiya Police Station

On 6 January, a devastating fire broke out at Rohingya camp no. 5, burning about 1000 shanties into ashes.

Within five days on 11 January, another fire bore out at the camp, burning 40-50 houses.

The fires were intentionally set by the arrestees and some others, according to the RAB officials.

During primary interrogation, Osman told RAB-15 that he joined the ARSA through the top leader of the organization Master Khaled. Later, he was made the gun commander.

"A total of 12 'Gun Group' have been committing crimes and sabotages in the refuge camps by the order of group leader Ataullah, Captain Sajjad said.

Notably, RAB arrested a total of 83 ARSA members from Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas in the district in the last one year.