Maungdaw, Arakan State:  Authorities attacked a religious ceremony in Maung Hna Ma village under Aung Mangahla Nasaka section on the night of October 30.

The ceremony had been held in the house of Abu Subayan and Mrs. Amina. The couple is a wealthy family of the village and was holding this religious ceremony for the villagers, regarding the Islam faith, said a village elder.

Taking part in the ceremony, were four honourable Maulana, including Syedul Amin, who was giving religious speeches and sermons to the village. It was then that, a section of Nasaka personnel with village chairman Zubair and Mouktar alias Zaw Min entered the ceremony area and ordered the program to be culminated. The authorities arrested the house owner Abu Subayan, he added. 

The authority accused the villagers of holding illegal functions in the village, without permission from the concerned authority and also accused them of indulging in anti-government activities in the guise of religious ceremonies, he more added.

The authorities asked Amina the wife of Abu Subayan, to contact the village chairman or Military Intelligence Officer or the director of Nasaka Headquarters.

"When contacted the officers demanded Kyat 0.12 million for not filing the case against my husband or else they would go ahead with the case," said Amina.

"My husband is still in the custody of the Nasaka and I am looking for money to release my husband," she added.

Maulana Syedul Amin was called by the officer of Aung Mangala Nasaka camp on October 31, and asked about the village and its people, especially about Abu Subayan and kept in the camp for the whole night. He was released next morning, said a closed aide from camp.