RSO activist shot dead by ‘Arsa members’

Members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa) shot and killed a Rohingya refugee at the Kutupalong Camp in Ukhiya upazila, Cox's Bazar on Saturday night, said police.

The deceased Mohammad Solim, 45, a resident of Camp 7, was a supporter of the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), said Additional Deputy Inspector General Harun-or-Rashid, commanding officer of 14 Armed Police Battalion (APBn).

"In the primary investigation, we learned that some 8-10 Arsa men wielding firearms shot Solim 4-5 times around 9:00 pm at Camp 2."

The criminals then fled the scene when APBn members arrived at the spot, the additional DIG added.

Solim was taken to a nearby NGO-run hospital where doctors declared him dead.

"Legal proceedings in this connection are underway," Harun said.

The deceased's relatives said Solim didn't pay Arsa men the Tk 40,000 they had demanded from him as extortion money. They had threatened serious consequences if he didn't pay.

This year so far, at least 60 Rohingya men were killed in the camps, according to police and local leaders.