Buthidaung, Arakan State: A victim of a fire, whose house was gutted, was summoned yet again on October 13 to the headquarters of the Nasaka, Burma's border security force No. 9 for further interrogation, said a relative of the victim, on condition of anonymity.

The victim was identified as Md. Eliyas (45), son of Abdul Bar's from Kyi Hnute Thii village of Ngaran Chaung village tract of Buthidaung Township.

His house was burnt to ashes on September 19, at around 4:30 pm, while his wife was cooking Iftari for breaking Sabbath after sun set. Suddenly, the house caught fire. Fanned by winds the fire spread and could not be put out as there is no fire brigade.

The following day, on September 20, the owner of the house was summoned to the Nasaka headquarters of No. 9 and had to pay Kyat 800,000 for negligence.

The sector commander asked the house owner to be present at the Nasaka headquarters again on October 13. He fears he maybe sent to jail or will have to face extortion again. 

A relative of the victim said," I think that there is no country in the world where a victim of a fire has to give into extortion by government authorities. On the contrary the authorities help the victim."