Maungdaw, Arakan State: A villager from Du Chee Yar Dan (Kilaidaung) Village in Maungdaw South who was arrested by the Border Guard Police (BGP) on 8 May over allegations that he was involved in killing a police officer last year in violence between villagers and the police is being severely tortured, said a former administration officer from the village.
He said: “The victim has been identified as--- Ayub Khan (25), son of Mogul Ahmed, from Kilaidaung Village in Maungdaw Township.”
He added that Shah Alam (age 30), son of Kala, also from Kilaidaung Village, had informed police that the victim was involved in the killing of a police officer on 12 January 2014.
A local businessman, on condition of anonymity, said that Shah Alam is at present the secretary of Kilaidaung Village and he wants to become the Village Administration Officer (Chairman) following the killing of the former Village Administration Officer, Sultan (age 27) on 2 May by unknown people. To help his cause Shah Alam has become close to police officers at the police camp just outside the village.
The police officer gave 300,000 kyats to Shah Alam for giving him the information about the killing of the police officer in Kilaidaung village on 12 January 2014, according to the former Village Administration Officer.
After Ayub Khan was arrested he showed police the location of the grave of the missing police officer. After that the police officers took Ayub Khan to his home to see his family members on 10 May, according to one of his close relatives.
On 12 May, at about 9:00 AM, a group of police and army went to the spot to dig at the location of the grave indicated by Ayub Khan, but they did not find any sign of a dead body.
A village leader said that the victim was forced to show the location of the missing police officer's grave last year.