Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma's border security force robbed a villager's home in Maungdaw Township and took away gold ornaments worth kyat 2 million, on July 1 night, said a relative of the victim on condition of anonymity.

The victim was identified as Ahmed Rezaul Nuri (53) from Nantha Daung village in Maungdaw Township.

On July 1 at around 1 pm, about 10 Burma's border security force (Nasaka) personnel with automatic rifles went to Ahmed Rezaul Nuri's home and committed robbery after confining the family members in a room. But Razaul and his younger son Mohamed Siddique (15) resisted them resulting in serious injuries. The Nasaka beat them up severely and knifed them. But, they did not open fire.

They took away cash and ornaments worth about 2 million kyat.  The father and son were admitted in Maungdaw general hospital in a critical condition.

But, according to an official source, some insurgent groups along with some refugee robbers and some Bangladeshi dacoits committed the robbery.

According to villagers, this was not possible as there are many Nasaka camps surrounding the village. An outsider would not dare to commit robbery in the area. Villagers know who the real robbers are.

Besides, on June 28, the shop of Aung Kyaw Sein of the Rakhine community, hailing from Upper (Ahtet) Pyoma village in Maungdaw Township was robbed by some robbers with automatic rifles. The owner of the shop also received bullet wounds when the robbers opened fire. Now, he is in Maungdaw general hospital in a critical condition, said a relative of the victim.

Similarly, on June 8, a hut of a farmer Jalil (not real name) in the paddy field was robbed by robbers who took away a cow. This hut is situated not far from Bawli Bazar in Maungdaw Township. Two days later, the stolen cow was seen in the police station of Bawli Bazaar. The people informed the owner of the cow, and the owner went to the police station to bring back his stolen cow, said a farmer who is related to the victim on condition of anonymity.

But, the police said that they had seized the cow from robbers. If the owner wanted the cow, back he would have pay kyat 150,000 to the police. The owner of the cow was unable to take the cow as the cost would have been more than the price of a new one.

Another villager from Bawli Bazaar said, "It is clear who commits the robbery as villagers see the robbers who carry automatic rifles."