Maungdaw, Arakan State: The new BSI (Bureau Special Intelligence) officers' unruly activities against villagers at Maungdaw Township are unbearable to the villagers, said a businessman from Maungdaw Town on condition of anonymity.
Two new Bureau Special Intelligence (BSI) officers accompanied by one force arrived at Maungdaw Township on August, 2008 after BSI officer Captain Aye Tun transferred to other place from Maungdaw Town on August. People said that ex-BSI Captain Aye Tun was a good officer, but the new BSI officers are notorious.
After arrival of the new BSI officers (one Captain and another one is Lieutenant named Me Maung) at Maungdaw Town, they observed the situation of Maungdaw Township and has been arrested Rohingya people on false allegation, torture and extorted money since October 2008.
The BSI officers alleged the Rohingya people such as involving in money exchange, on holding mobile phones, involving in human trafficking and Yaba tablets smuggling and border cross of Burma-Bangladesh and etc. The arrested persons were released after taking kyat 300,000 to 800,000 from each of the detainee. But, the officers did not send any one to police station. If the case is genuine, the detainee must be sent to police satiation and put up cases against them and the case was properly inquired. Why did they do not send them to police station? What are the reasons? Asked a village elder referring not to be named.
The BSI officers keep a man in their office named Sha Alam, hailed from ward No.5 of Maungdaw Town as a guide. He is a very notorious man and he is used by BSI officers to torture the arrested persons. Some of the arrested persons were as follows.
In first week of October, Moulvi Joher, hailed from Poung Zaar village of Maungdaw Township were arrested on allegation that he was involved in human trafficking and he was released after taking kyat 500,000. The victim had paid another kyat 100,000 to Sha Alam not to beat more, said a close relative of the victim.
On October 6, Maung Tin son of Ashu Ali, hailed from Shwe Zaar village was arrested on allegation of Yaba tablets smuggling and was released after taking kyat 800,000.
In second week of October, son of Shobbir Ahmed, hailed from Myoma Ka Nyin Tan village was arrested and released after paying kyat 300,000. Son of Shabbir Ahmed was arrested in stead of his father as father was absent at his house while the BSI officers went home to arrest him. He was arrested on allegation that he was involved in Yaba tablet smuggling.
On October 15, Mir Ahmed son of Abdu Rahaman, hailed from Myoma Ka Nyin Tan was arrested on allegation that he was involved in leather smuggling and was released after taking kyat 250,000. He is a shopkeeper at Maungdaw. His son Enus was also severely beaten as he went to BSI office to see his father.
