Maungdaw, Arakan State: Armed men wearing masks robbed a resident of block number six (Four miles) of Maungdaw today at about 1:00 hour and shot dead his nephew, according to a resident from block six.

The armed men came to the residence to check the guest list asking the owner to open the door in fluent Burmese like the Burmese border security force (Nasaka) do. So the resident opened the door.

The resident belongs to the Hindu community and is called Nermor working in Maungdaw town as a goldsmith, the resident said.

The robbers knew that he is a goldsmith and would have gold ornaments in his home. But, all the robbers got was a small chain from his wife, the resident said.

“While Nemor’s family screamed for help, the robbers opened fire, shooting dead one of Nemor’s nephews on the spot. Four others were injured,” said another resident.

“It is impossible for robbers to enter without the security personnel knowing, as it is far from the border (about four miles) and there is paramilitary (Hluntin) cantonment,” said a village authority member.

“The authorities have declared that after midnight no official can check people,” the village authority member said.

“In three to four month, there have been more than 30 robberies in Maungdaw Township, but not a single robber was arrested or killed,” said a school teacher from Maungdaw.

“In Maungdaw, the authorities ordered villagers to guard their villages voluntarily but the security personnel always create problems by collecting toll every night from the village sentries. It happens only to those of the Arakanese Rohingya community,” the teacher said.

“In Maungdaw, no Arakanese Rohingya community can speak fluent Burmese in Maungdaw, expect security personnel like: Nasaka, Army, police and newly resettled of model villagers (Natala). There are many outpost camps of the Nasaka, army and police along the border. So how can the robbers escape without security personnel knowing about it,” asked an elder from Maungdaw.

“May be the robbers are from the security forces or Natala villagers in collaboration with Arakanese Rohingya or Arakanese Rakhine, robbing the residents of Maungdaw ,” the elder said.

An eyewitness said that after the robbery in their house last month, he tried to contact the mobile, which the robber took away from them. He heard the voice of an Arakanese Rohingya, than it was transferred to another person who spoke fluent Burmese, like an officer of the security forces.