Buthidaung, Burma: A school teacher (Junior Assistant Teacher- JAT) was tortured by the Army last month and suffered two broken ribs on allegations that he had enlisted foreign support to aid his son, who was studying in a university, according to a local trader.

The school teacher was identified as Anwar Mail (60), son of Fazal Ahamed. He hailed from U Hlapee village tract of Buthidaung Township in Arakan State, Burma.

Earlier, Anwar used to teach in the middle school of Phone Nyo Hlake village tract of Buthidaung Township. Currently, he is a teacher of the affiliated middle school of Sine Daung village tract of Buthidaung Township.

Last month, a section of Army personnel from Battalion No. 551, went to Anwar's house at midnight and arrested him along with his three sons, who are in high school and college, said an aide close to the army.

Before they were arrested, the Army personnel searched the house, but did not find any incriminating document.

Later, Anwar and his elder son, who was studying in Akyab College, were taken to a nearby mountain by the army personnel, where the father was severely beaten up and two of his ribs were broken. The army tried to extract a confessional statement regarding where he got the money to support the education of his children. However, his sons were not tortured.

Later that night, he was released after he paid Kyat 80,000 to the Army.

Anwar has been suffering from broken ribs since last month and his condition is critical. He was not allowed to go Akyab (Sittwe), the capital of Arakan state and did not have the means to go to a neighboring country for treatment, a close friend said.