15 al-Qaeda suspects found to be infiltrators

Imphal, Aug 21 (UNI) Fifteen foreigners, who were nabbed from Moreh, Chandel district along the Manipur-Myanmar border by the Army on August 17, have been identified as illegal immigrants and have no link with the al-Qaeda, as thought earlier.

The PRO of Assam Rifles said the foreigners, were illegal immigrants from Myanmar.

Reports had stated that the foreigners, who infiltrated into the border town from Myanmar, were cadres of the militant outfit.

The PRO said all the detained were Myanmarese Muslims from Arakan and had crossed over from Arakan to Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts) and thereafter arrived at Moreh via Tripura, Silchar and Imphal.

They were engaged in both manual and semi-skilled work, the PRO informed.

UNI