BANDAR BARU – Police have identified the main culprit suspected of inciting the riot that triggered the breakout involving hundreds of Rohingya at the Sg Bakap immigration depot yesterday.
Bernama reported Kedah Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk G. Suresh Kumar as saying that the man, in his 30s, is a detainee at the camp that police believe was the mastermind who incited the detainees to riot.
“This man remains at large and search efforts are ongoing,” he told reporters at the district police headquarters here today.
Suresh said as of last night, some 200 of the Rohingya detainees have been questioned.
Over 20 personnel from the Immigration Department and the People’s Volunteer Corps who were on duty during the breakout were called in today to record their statements as well, he said.
“So far, what we know is that the escapees only wanted their freedom and it was not because they were unhappy with the camp management,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bandar Baharu district police chief Mohd Akmal Hizam Abd Khupur assured that the district and its surroundings were safe despite many detainees still being on the loose.
He said 14 police teams with a strength of 350 personnel, including the General Operations Force, have been mobilised to track down the fugitives.
“For now, we are focusing on Bandar Baharu town, Relau, and Lubuk Buntar, each team covering a 2km radius search range.
“Some of the escapees were found on roadsides and we believe some are hiding in bushes with no idea where to go,” he said at a press conference in Serdang near here today.
“We have also placed plainclothes policemen in the villages to locate and identify the escaped detainees.”
Akmal also advised residents not to act on their own if they happen to come across the escapees, and instead immediately contact the nearest police station.
He warned residents not to accommodate the detainees as it is an offence to harbour them.
“Action will be taken against residents who harbour the detainees. We want the villagers to help the police force by alerting or providing information to arrest them,” Akmal added.
In the 4.30am incident on Wednesday, 528 Rohingya detainees escaped from the depot following a riot.
Six of them died after being hit by vehicles on the North-South Expressway while 130 detainees, comprising 99 men, 21 women, five boys, and five girls are still on the run. – The Vibes, April 21, 2022
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