Thandwe, Arakan State: Four Muslims were arrested last Wednesday by security forces in a southern district of Arakan State after handmade weapons were discovered in a mosque, according to witnesses.
One witness said security force officers arrested the mosque trustee U Tin Aung and three youths living in the mosque after they allegedly found swords, slingshots, spears and iron rods.
The apparent bust took place a day before authorities allowed everyone else in the strife-torn regions of western Burma three-days to surrender all guns, swords and other weapons to the police.
The four people detained were seen by the Thandwe Township court the next day and denied bail.
Security forces, police and army personnel also raided Bodi Gom monastery and Jamad mosque in Thandaw last Wednesday.
According to one local government official who wouldn’t give their name, no weapons were found in the Buddhist monastery but several handmade weapons were found in the mosque.
At the time of press Narinjara News couldn’t confirm the information with Thandwe police.
