Rohingya Muslims issue: Amnesty condemns escalating militarisation in Myanmar's Rakhine
Nay Pyi Taw: Amnesty International released a report on Monday condemning the escalating militarisation in Myanmar's Rakhine state, from which at least 688,000 people from the Rohingya Muslim minority have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.
According to Amnesty, the Myanmar security forces were building bases in the region and bulldozing all the buildings in the villages where the Rohingya, now refugees in Bangladesh, had previously lived.
In the report titled "Remaking Rakhine State", Amnesty has revealations by witness testimony, expert analysis and satellite images the progress of the military's construction, which intensified in January.
At least three new military camps have been established in the north of the region, where around one million Rohingya had lived until 2016.
"What we are seeing in Rakhine state is a land grab by the military on a dramatic scale. New bases are being erected to house the very same security forces that have committed crimes against humanity against Rohingya," Tirana Hassan, Amnesty's crisis response director, said in a statement.
According to Doctors without Borders (MSF), some 6,700 Rohingya have died during the military retaliation campaigns.
Despite the fact that military operations have declined, the campaigns to banish the Rohingya from Myanmar and to prevent their return continue.
"Myanmar's authorities are erasing evidence of crimes against humanity, making any future attempts to hold those responsible to account extremely difficult. New roads and structures are being built over burned Rohingya villages and land, making it even less likely for refugees to return to their homes," Tirana said.
Myanmar does not recognise the Rohingya as its citizens, arguing they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, which has led to continued discrimination against the Rohingya community as well as restrictions on their freedom of movement.
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234 held in anti-drug operation in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 15 (PTI): The Kerala police on Saturday said as part of its special drive to crack down on individuals suspected of drug trafficking, 234 people were arrested, and varying quantities of several deadly narcotics, including MDMA, were seized.
The State Police Media Centre (SPMC) stated that on March 14, as part of the drive, D-Hunt, authorities inspected 2,362 individuals suspected of drug trafficking and arrested 234 of them.
The operation was carried out across the state to identify and take strict legal action against those involved in the storage and distribution of banned drugs.
Police registered 222 cases related to the possession of various prohibited substances, according to a statement issued by the SPMC.
Additionally, authorities seized 0.0119 kg of MDMA, 6.171 kg of cannabis, and 167 cannabis 'beedis' from those arrested.
Operation D-Hunt is being jointly implemented by the Range-based NDPS Coordination Cell and District Police Chiefs under the leadership of State Anti-Narcotics Task Force Head and ADGP (Law and Order) Manoj Abraham, following the instructions of State Police Chief Dr Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, the statement said.
The SPMC also announced that a 24-hour Anti-Narcotics Control Room (9497927797) has been set up to receive information from the public regarding drug-related activities.
The details of individuals who contact this number will be kept confidential, it added.
Furthermore, the operation will continue in the coming days through sustained surveillance and the creation of a database of individuals regularly involved in drug-related activities and transactions.
