Maungdaw, Arakan State: A villager was arrested, tortured and fined by Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) yesterday in Maungdaw Township because he refused to do sentry duty, said a close relative.

The victim was identified as Moulvi Nurul Amin (25), son of Abu Ahmed, hailing from Pawet Chaung village of Nasaka area No.5 of Maungdaw Township.

Rohingyas are forced to perform sentry duty on an unending basis in North Arakan State. Most households in rural areas have to provide one person for sentry duty one or two nights per week. Sentries are ordered to watch and report all activities of villagers from night to morning. Sentry duty is used only as a means of extortion and harassment of Rohingya villagers.

The victim Moulvi Nurul Amin made an agreement with the local village headman Abdu Salam (30), to avoid sentry duty for one year after paying him Kyat 10,000. The agreement was made with the knowledge of present village chairman Md. Rashid, said another relative of the victim.

After seven months the village headman asked the victim yesterday to provide sentry duty. There was an exchange of words between them. This was informed to the village chairman and local Nasaka check-post.

On August 1, at about 10 am, a section of Nasaka personnel from the outpost of Nasaka Camp No.12 under its area No.5 went to the victim’s house and arrested him. He was brought to Nasaka camp where he was severely tortured.

However, in the evening, he was released after paying Kyat 250,000 to the Nasaka officer.

This is a normal practice against the Rohingya community by the Nasaka, said a local businessman.