Imphal, August 20: Officially acknowledging that 15 foreigners were picked up from Moreh Ward number 2, Pangal Basti on August 17 at about 11.30 am by troops of 24 Assam Rifles based at the border town, the PRO of Assam Rifles today dubbed them as illegal immigrants from Myanmar and asserted that no links with any terrorist organisation or Al Qaeda have been established so far.

The PRO however said that they are being handed over to the police for further handling the case and if need be to establish links with any groups.

On the other hand a highly reliable Defence source informed he Sangai Express that documents linked to the Al Qaeda were seized from one among the 15 arrested from Moreh.

The source without divulging further details said that the matter has now been taken up by the Ministry of Home Affairs as it involves foreigners and necessary investigation has been entrusted to the Intelligence Bureau.

Another source disclosed to The Sangai Express that though the 15 detainees may not be linked to the Al Qaeda there is a possibility that they may be linked to rebel groups based at Arakan in Myanmar.

The Assam Rifles PRO in the statement further said that all the detained 15 are Myanmarese Muslims from Arakan.

One of them had documents from Thailand, said the statement.

During interrogation it has come to light that they crossed over from Arakan to Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts) and thereafter arrived at Moreh via Tripura, Silchar and Imphal, added the statement.

The PRO informed that they were engaged in both manual and semi-skilled works and added that the money earned by them is sent to their families at Arakan via Namphalong.

Though the 15 of them have been handed over to Imphal West police today evening, formal proceedings including registration of an FIR would be carried out by Moreh police as they were arrested from the border town.

The 15 detainees are likely to be produced before a Magistrate tomorrow, said police sources.

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