Four alleged terror suspects were detained by police in northern Shan state’s Hsenwi Township in the afternoon of 14 November and immediately taken to Mandalay, according to local police.

Hsenwi police station confirmed on Sunday that the arrests had taken place but refused to provide further details.

“Four individuals were arrested at the Asia World tollgate following a tip-off,” an officer on duty at the Hsenwi police station told DVB via phone.

Sai Win Khine, the town’s lower house MP, who represents the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, said “four Bengalis” were detained when police stopped a bus travelling from Lashio to the border town of Muse.

“Bengalis” is a common term used by Burmese to describe the country’s Rohingya community.

[related]

“The four Bengalis were arrested on 14 November around 2:30pm,” said Sai Win Khine. “Only one had ID, the others did not. They are suspected of terrorist activity and taken straight to Mandalay.”

The police spokesman declined to identify whether the four were the alleged “RSO bombers” whose faces have appeared in wanted posters first published by authorities in Mon State and distributed widely in central Burma in the days leading up to the ASEAN Summit in Naypyidaw last week.

The poster claims the four are members of the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) who are, it says, “trained terrorists”. The campaign warns members of the public to immediately report any sightings of the four men to local police.

Burmese police spokesperson Win Khaung was unavailable for comment.