Ukhiya, Nov. 13 (V7N) – Security forces in Ukhiya have arrested an alleged active camp commander of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) with a foreign-made pistol and seven rounds of ammunition, while a separate operation in the same upazila led to the recovery of two locally made firearms and six rounds of rifle ammunition.

The operations were conducted by the Special Response Battalion (SRB)-15 in separate areas of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on November 11 and 12. No arrests were made during the second operation.

In the latest operation, an SRB-15 team arrested Belal, son of Abdu Shukkur and a resident of Block A-7 of Rohingya Camp No. 6, during a raid in the Balukhali area of Palongkhali Union on Thursday afternoon.

According to the battalion, Belal is an active ARSA camp commander.

Acting on a tip-off, a team from CPC-1 (Teknaf Camp) conducted the operation on the brick-paved road in front of Ismail Khan’s house in Balukhali. During a search, the team recovered a loaded foreign-made pistol, two magazines, seven live rounds of ammunition, an Android mobile phone and two anklets from his possession.

Belal and the seized items were handed over to Ukhiya Police Station on Thursday evening for legal action. The battalion said further legal proceedings against him were underway.

In a separate operation, SRB-15 recovered two locally made single-shot firearms and six rounds of rifle ammunition from a bamboo grove in the Madhughona area of Purba Morichya under Holodia Palong Union.

The recovery took place late Wednesday night, November 11, after an SRB-15 team from CPC-2 (Whykong Camp) launched an operation based on confidential information.

The battalion said suspected individuals fled after sensing the presence of the security team. A subsequent search behind the house of a local resident, identified as Alamgir, led to the recovery of the firearms and ammunition, which had been left abandoned in the bamboo grove.

The recovered weapons and ammunition were handed over to Ukhiya Police Station for further legal action.

SRB-15 said intelligence surveillance and special operations would continue to prevent crime and maintain public security.

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