Over 170 Bengalis arrested in the sea off Kawthoung Township, Taninthayi Region, have arrived back in Rakhine State, and 17 have been handed over to Sittway, Rakhine State, according to local sources.

The 17 returnees were sent back to their families through village administrators on January 13

Police arrested 172 Bengalis at the sea together with seven Myanmar citizens on December 15 last year as tried to go to Malaysia.

"They arrived by ship in The Creek. They were then fetched by motorboat. There were altogether 17. They said that amount (17) was only for Sittway Township. I don't know where the remaining people have been sent. The 17 include four children at the age ranging from 6 to 10," said a resident of Thechung Village in Sittway Township.

Of the 17, 10 are women and 10 are men. They are the Bengalis from Thechaung and Darpaing villages in Sittway Township. The remaining Bengalis are reported to have been sent to Maungdaw.