Pauktaw, Arakan State: A businessman involved in border trade was arrested by the police on the night of December 25 from his residence, a local from Pauktaw said.

The businessman, Du Du Meah (48), from Block number 3 of Pauktaw, had permission from the concerned authority to run his business from Arakan State, in Burma to Bangladesh. He also had a border trade permit, which was issued by the authority, the local added.

However, a section of police personnel led by Township Police Officer Htun Sein arrested Du Du Meah accusing him of carrying on illegal trade with Bangladesh, thrice within December. They seized his cargo boat, said a source from the police.

The police accused Meah of sending goods from Burma to Bangladesh three times in December 2008, where he had sent initially rice, secondly timber and finally cattle during the Muslim festival. The police charged him that he had sent more rice, timber and cattle than he had permission for.  The police seized his cargo boat and demanded Kyat 4 million to release the boat, according to the source.

"There are so many businessmen, who are doing border trade, no one was arrested by the authority, as all the businessmen have an understanding with the authority. Have the police arrested him because Meah is an Arakanese Muslim?" wondered a school teacher from Pauktaw.