Maungdaw, Arakan State: Four villagers belonging to Maungdaw Township have been spending days and nights in Nasaka area number six since December 7, said a village elder on condition of anonymity.  

The four villagers from Mangala Gyi (Peran Pru) village tract of Maungdaw Township including Hamid (40), son of Md Akber were arrested by Nasaka personnel of area No.6 on December 7, on false allegations to extort money.  They are innocent.

Some were charged with having mobile sets, some were alleged to be involved in human trafficking, while others were accused of border crossing.

After arrest, they were kept in a small (6ft wide x 9 ft long) room where no toilet exists. The ground floor is made of cement, and is very cold without blankets at night. They have to urinate and to defecate inside the detained room. So, the stench has affected their health.

“The arrested have been kept in such rooms to extort money quickly. If they are heavily pressurized, the money will come faster,” according to a Nasaka official source.

Abdu Shukur (20), son of Mamtaz, from West Naribill village of Maungdaw Township was arrested by the Nasaka personnel of area No.6 on December 15, on the allegation that he had a mobile set However, he was released after extortion of Kyat 110,000, said a local villager.

Similarly, Md Rofique (25), son of Mostabiz, from East Naribill village of Maungdaw Township was arrested by the Nasaka on the same day, and on the same allegation. However, he was also released after paying Kyat 110,000, said a close relative of Md. Rofique requesting not to be named.

One of the traders of Maungdaw Town said, “The Nasaka Commander Major Nay Myo of Naska area No. 6 extorts money from Arakanese Rohingya villagers on false and fabricated cases. The higher authorities remain silent.”