Maungdaw, Arakan State: Nasaka, Burma's border security force killed two robbers and arrested two others on November 12. The robbers were going to a village to commit burglaries in a row boat through Magyi Chaung River after crossing Naf River from Bangladesh, said a schoolteacher.

Nasaka men in an engine boat patrolling the area saw the robbers in the river at about 12:30 pm and tried to stop the boat, but it defied the orders of Nasaka. So the Nasaka opened fire on suspicion that it was a smugglers boat. In retaliation, the robbers also fired back. The gun fight lasted a few minutes.

However, two robbers died and the others jumped into the river and managed to flee. The robbers were hiding in the villages and mangrove forests. Later, the villagers of Kuna Para of Maungdaw Township arrested two robbers from their village and handed them over to Nasaka.

The arrested robbers are identified as Salim Ullah (28), son of Mohamed Sayed  from Kuna Para and Azim Ullah (28), hailing from the same village. The Nasaka also arrested one Rohim Ullah (20), the younger brother of Salim Ullah for giving shelter to the fleeing robbers.

The arrested robbers were sent to the Nasaka camp of Nasaka araea No.7 Maungdaw Township where they were detained.

The robbers are mostly Rohingyas, who have been living in Bangladesh for a long time, and some Bangladeshis.  They mostly steal cattle from Arakan State, and if they get an opportunity they commit robberies in the villages.

Earlier, some of the robbers were arrested by Nasaka and killed. But, robberies are not coming down in Arakan State. If the concerned authorities of Bangladesh take the initiative the robberies will decrease in Arakan, said a village elder.