Maungdaw, Arakan State: A villager in Maungdaw Township has been implicated twice by the local authorities on false and fabricated cases, said a close relative of the victim.

The victim was identified as Maulvi Md. Amin (45), hailing from Sarfaddin Bil village of Maungdaw Township, Arakan State.

On July 11, personnel of the Sarapa (Military Intelligence) of Maungdaw town arrested him from his home on the allegation that he was involved in money exchange. He was brought to their camp, but on the way, he was asked to pay Kyat one million to be freed or be jailed, said a local businessman.

However, after a day, he was released after paying the money. The victim’s family members had to arrange the money.

The matter was brought to the notice of the local Nasaka camp. So, on July 16, the victim was arrested again by local Nasaka personnel of Nasaka area No.6 of Maungdaw Township on the allegation that he had a mobile set. He was released later after paying another Kyat 600,000, said local elder.

“The victim paid Kyat 1.6 million in one week to the Nasaka only to avoid torture and detention. How will the Rohingya community survive in Arakan?” a local elder asked.

The Nasaka, army, police and Sarapa’s use of torture and degrading treatment is a central component of an overall policy of deliberate persecution, sources said.

There are many unreported arrests and extortion cases against the Rohingya community in north Arakan. They have restricted movement, no jobs and no business, said a teacher.