Maungdaw, Arakan State: A youth was arrested by Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) in Maungdaw Township on July 15, on the allegation that he had married an elderly woman. He had to pay Kyat 400,000, said a close relative of the victim.

The victim was identified as Moulvi Sidique (22), son of Amin Ullah from Ghori Para (village) of Balu Khali area under the Nasaka area No.3 of Maungdaw Township.

Nasaka personnel of Nasaka area No.3 went to the victim’s house on July 15, and arrested him saying he had married an elderly woman (52) from the same village without permission from the concerned authority.  She has four children and one of them Jaffar became a Moulvi.  Her husband died earlier, but, she is the owner of some farmlands.

The commander of the Nasaka area No.3 is Major Nay Myo.

However, later, the youth was released after paying Kyat 400,000. No one is released without paying money to the Nasaka, if anyone is arrested by them whether the accusation is true or not, said a local elder on condition of anonymity.

The present Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) Chairman Eliyas alias Hla Sein (33), of Balu Khali village tract has land problems with the woman. As a result, the VPDC chairman wants to create problem for her. He is a native of Balu Khali village and his father is Badsha Meah. He is a close aide of Nasaka, police, Sarapa (Military Intelligence) and other township authorities such as District peace and Development Council Chairman and Township Peace and development Council chairman of Maungdaw Township. The VPDC Chairman created the problem saying that the young Moulvi married the old woman, said a local villager.

In fact, there was no marriage between Moulvi Sidique and the old woman. The VPDC Chairman Eliyas illegally accused them. The Nasaka takes actions on their collaborators’ advice without any inquiry.

A village elder said, “There is no logic or reason behind the young Moulvi marrying an old woman. The old woman is his mother’s age.”

“It is also destroyed the dignity of the old woman and the youth,” said a youth from the village.