GEORGE TOWN: About 163 Rohingya detainees who escaped from the Sri Impian Immigration depot in Relau in Bandar Baharu, Kedah, are believed to be still at large and may be heading south to Perak.

       However, they are not expected to get far as they are mostly barefooted and include many women and children.

       They could, however, be very dangerous as they may resort to anything in order to survive and a manhunt has been launched for them, say police.

       “As of noon, there were 171 detainees still at large, but we managed to arrest six near Sungai Kerian in Nibong Tebal,” said Penang police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain yesterday.

       “We are not sure how many others have been nabbed by Kedah and Perak police, as well as the immigration department.

       “We know that they are moving in large groups. They are barefoot and I believe that they must be tired.

       “After speaking to some of those who have been caught, we think that they are moving south but do not have an actual destination in mind.

       “Hopefully, Perak (police) will be able to identify and arrest them,” he told a press conference held by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in Komtar.

       “Some of those who were caught told us that they had been waiting to be sent back home,” he said.

       Comm Mohd Shuhaily added that some of the children were as young as one year old, while some others were old and frail.

       “They could also be very hungry as they have been out since 4am. They might be knocking on doors for food, while some are even fasting for Ramadan.

       “I call on the public who spot the escapees to urge them to surrender to the police or to at least contact the police.

       “Three roadblocks have been mounted on the Penang side of the state border, while more are being put up in Kedah and Perak,” he added.

       Comm Mohd Shuhaily said the detention depot had housed 664 detainees and 528 of them had escaped during the riot.

       “The 664 comprise 430 men, 97 women and 137 children (69 boys and 68 girls),” he said.

       Kedah police chief Comm Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad, meanwhile, described the detainees who are still at large as “highly dangerous”.

       He said since they were starving, they might break into houses or go out of control just to survive.

       “We are worried that the escapees might resort to committing crimes such as breaking into or stealing from people’s homes.

       “It is not impossible that they could get out of control in order to survive,” he told a press conference at the Bandar Baharu district police headquarters yesterday.

       “Most of the detainees still at large are barefooted and relatively easy to identify based on their attire. We believe that some of them may try to stop cars and ask for a ride.

       “We hope that those who come across this group will immediately contact the police,” Comm Wan Hassan said.