Maungdaw, Arakan State:  Sarapa (Military Intelligence) killed a Rohingya man after torturing him severely on January 4, in Maungdaw Town, Arakan State, after calling him to their office, according to a close relative of the victim on condition of anonymity.  

The victim was identified as Zahir Ahmed (47), son of Boshor from Ward No.2 or Khari Para of Maungdaw Town.

On January 3, at about 8 am, the victim was called by Sergeant Maung Pru of Sarapa to their office in Ward No.1 of Maungdaw Town, while the victim was standing in front of Hamidul Hougue’s betel quid shop at the Khari Para crossroad.

The victim’s relatives believe that after taking him to the Sarapa office, he was severely tortured by the Sarapa Sergeant for a confessional statement saying he was involved in W-Y tablets or heroin business. In the evening, the victim’s son was called to the Sarapa office to pay Kyat 5 million for his father’s release. But, the victim’s son was not able to arrange such a large amount of money in a short time. The Sarapa officer is an expert at extorting money from Rohingya people by torturing them over false allegations, a local trader said.

However, the Sarapa Sergeant denied that the victim was killed by him. But, an eyewitness, who did not want to be named in Maungdaw town, said that the victim was called to the office by the Sergeant and tortured. Higher authorities must inquire into the murder immediately and give exemplary punishment to the culprit, said a relative of the victim.

However, on January 4, at about 4 pm, the body of Zahir Ahmed was found by local people floating in the Shwe Zaar River. The Maungdaw police station was informed. Police immediately went to the spot and took the body to the police station. The police sent it to Maungdaw General Hospital for post-mortem. Till 9 p.m. yesterday, the relatives of the victim did not know about the post-mortem report.

According to local villagers, who found the body in the river, there were many marks on the body.

“We believe that he was tortured severely in the Sarapa office for a confessional statement that he was involved in drug business,” a relative of the victim said.

“The Rohingya community cannot tolerate Rohingya people being killed like dogs and thrown into the river,” said a local youth.

Besides, on January 26, Moulvi Ali Hussain (24) from Labbaw Zaar village of Maungdaw Township was also arrested by Sarapa officer Maung Pru on suspicion that he was involved in WY tablets or heroin business.  However, he was released on January 31, after he paid Kyat 2.5 million, a relative of the victim said.  

On January 17, Md. Yunus, son of Nabi Hussain, from Paung Zaar Pin Chay village of Maungdaw Township was arrested by Sarapa Sergeant Maung Pru on the allegation that he was involved in heroin smuggling. He was set free on January 20, after paying Kyat 1.2 million, said a local villager.

Rohingya villagers are being harassed and fleeced by Sarapa, police, army, Nasaka and other Township authorities.  The big question is how long the Rohingya community will survive in Arakan soil?” asked a Rohingya elder on condition of anonymity.