Maungdaw: Two toll collectors from a model village in Maungdaw Township were hospitalized after irate villagers assaulted them when they attempted to collect toll from local residents, said a police constable who did not want to be named.

"Two toll collectors, U Thein Shwe and Maung Mya, were hospitalized with severe injuries after villagers attacked them in a forest in Maungdaw Township," the policeman said.

The two men from Mawrawdi model village in Maungdaw Township have been hospitalized at the Ali Thankyaw Village Tract hospital, a few miles south of Maungdaw.

The incident occurred in Mawrawdi model village last week when they were collecting toll from local woodcutters.

 

A local source said the forest department in Maungdaw had given permission to the two men to collect taxes from the woodcutters for their personal benefit.

"They collect toll not only from woodcutters but also from ordinary people whenever the villagers go to the forest to cut bamboo and wood for their homes," a woman said.

In Maungdaw Township, many local forest department offices have appointed their associates from the villages to collect toll from woodcutters and local residents when they go to cut wood from the forest for personal use. They also collect money from ordinary people whenever they see them with firewood in their possession.

"After they get money from woodcutters they share the money among themselves, including the foresters. It is also a business in the region for local foresters and local gents," the woman said.

It was also learnt that the police have not taken any action against the villagers who attacked the toll collectors, even though the two men received severe injuries.