Maungdaw, Arakan State: Electricity supply was cut off from Maungdaw big mosque on February 5, for use of an extra meter box, supplied by the electricity department by paying money, said a local religious leader who declined to be named.
It is learnt that there were two meter boxes; one was for the mosque and another for Hafez Khana (Quaran memorial center) in the compound of the mosque. The meter box, used for Hafez Khana was illegal, but the concerned authorities collected money monthly for this meter box. So, the mosque committee members thought that there will be no objection from the government.
Last month, the District Peace and Development Council (DPDC) Chairman Aung Swe Nyunt formed a committee to survey the electricity situation in Maungdaw Town because of short supply. The Committee members found that 350 gallons of fuel are needed for electricity for one night, but the officers showed consumption of about 450 gallons of fuel, said an aide of the Maungdaw police.
In Maungdaw town, the committee members checked all the meter boxes and seized 45 illegal meter boxes. Of these, seven meter boxes were of Rohingya people and 38 meter boxes were of Rakhine people, the aide added.
Regarding the illegal meter boxes, 45 people including Rakhine and Arakanese Rohingya were arrested by the police. However, all 38 Rakhine people were set free after a warning, but seven Arakanese Rohingyas were sent to jail, said a trader from Maungdaw town.
The arrested Rohingyas were identified as: Ashpark ( 25), son of Amin Shoriff from Fayazi Para, Soe Naing (35), son of U Chit Maung from Ward # 2, of Maungdaw Town, Tufail Ahmed (50) from Fayazi Para. Four other persons’ names were not available.
However, later, all the arrested expect Tufail Ahmed were released after collecting Kyat 400,000 to 500,000 per head. Tufail Ahmed was brought to Sittwe (Akyab), the capital of Arakan State for further interrogation because he was also accused of being involved in Yaba tablet trafficking, said a relative of the victim.
Regarding the illegal meter box used in Hafez Khana, the concerned authorities tried to arrest mosque committee members, but charges were not pressed. But, at present, they are not allowed to use electricity in the mosque by using private generators.
A local elder said sarcastically on condition of anonymity, “Burma is free from religious discrimination.”
Power is supplied from 6 pm to 10 pm in Maungdaw town only in early March, but the electricity crisis has been so acute that town dwellers feel it is already peak summer. Students studying for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC), or Matriculation exams are the most affected as power cuts are hampering studies, said a parent.
The matriculation students sat for examinations yesterday across the country.
A mother of a student said, “God knows what will happen in summer.
