“When they returned to the camp, word of sexual abuse and torture committed by local residents blew up at the camp,’’ said Lhokseumawe district Police Chief Lt Col Anang Triarsono.
He said anger boiled over on Tuesday when the Rohingya surged out of the camp carrying rolls of clothes and other supplies. They were later persuaded to return.
“We very much regret this incident and will definitely thoroughly investigate it,’’ said Amir Hamzah, a spokesman for the district government in North Aceh. He said the females were traumatised and wanted to seek medical attention, but were stopped when Rohingya men in the camp insisted they stay.