Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma Border Guard Police (BGP) have been arbitrarily arresting Rohinya villagers since ex-village Chairman Khobir Ahmed was shot to death in broad day light by unknown criminals on May 24 at Powet-Chaung village of Maungdaw north, said Zabar Bawli from the locality.
On May 27, the BGP arrested present village Admin officer Abul Kalam (48), and his younger brother Hafez Noor Mohamed (25), son of Abul Boshor, Maung-Nama village of Maungdaw Township. The detainees were alleged that they had involved in the murder of ex-village chairman Khobir Ahmed, Zabar added.
Similarly, the BGP also arrested another five villagers from Nari Bill village of Maungdaw north, on the same day. Of them, four are identified as Hafez Ahmed (40) son of Shori Hussain, Nasir Ahmed (27), son of Abdu Rashid, son of Du Du Meah, and Kala (55) son of Mohamed Shorif. Present village Admin officer of Nari Bill village is from Rakhine community, Hasu, a local trader said.
The BGPs are also trying to arrest many villagers from Powet-Chaung village. As a result, many villagers run away from the village to avoid capture by the BGP, a village elder Hakin Sadar said.
On May 24, at around 10 :00 am, two unknown miscreants with shotguns wearing water proof, masks and hats, speaking fluently in Burmese as disguise of police, riding motor bike, entered the village Admin office and shot to death the victim ex-Chairman Khobir Ahmed. In the meeting, there were 16 villagers including two women were present in the room and they were discussing about the village road building, which is connecting to Rakhine-Powet-Chaung and Rohingya-Powet-Chaung village, said Hamidul Rahaman, a trader from the village.
The Rakhine village (Powet Chaung) is only 100 yards away from the Admin office, in which the ex- village Chairman was killed, Hamidul Rahaman said.
After shooting the ex-village Chairman, the miscreants immediately ran away with motorbike from the scene, according to Rahaman.
Many villagers said that Khobir Ahmed was a good man and during his tenure he did not give any trouble to any local villager, accordingly no enemy to kill him. But, the local BGP accused local villagers of killing him and trying to arrest local residents.