Curfew imposed on Indo-Burma border after arrest of 15 Rohingyas
August 21, 2007 - The Assam Rifles has imposed curfew restricting movement of people from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. in Moreh town, Manipur state, northeastern India on the Indo-Burma border after its arrested 15 people believed to be Rohingyas from Arakan state, Burma last week.
Suspecting them of having links with the Al Qaeda, Assam Rifles raided the locality of the Muslim community in Pangal Basti ward (2) in Moreh and rounded up 15 Rohingya from Burma on August 17.
"They (the detainees from Burma) were transferred to Imphal west police for further interrogation yesterday and will be produced in court today", said a source in Imphal.
There has been no announcement about how long the curfew will be in force, said a Burmese national in Imphal town, Manipur.
"Many people know that the arrested Rohingyas were working in Nanphalong market in Moreh. I don't think they are linked with the Al Qaeda," he added.
So far there is no evidence to connect the group to the Al Qaeda but they may have links with other terror groups, said Major General B.K Chengappa of the Assam Rifles. He said that one among the 15 detainees has a work permit card from Thailand.
Till now no Rohingya from any Burmese organization in exile has made a statement relating to the arrest of the Rohingyas.
The arrested people were said to have crossed over from Bangladesh having come from Burma to Moreh through Tripura, Silchar in Assam and Imphal in Manipur. – Khonumthung.
