Maungdaw, Arakan State: Three men were arrested by Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) on March 10, based on allegations that they had been involved in human trafficking, a schoolteacher from the locality said.
The men have been identified as Abdul Rahim (55), son of Jaffar Hussain, Maulvi Haizur Rahaman (27), son of Abdul Rahim and Abul Boshor (32), son of Abdul Gaffar, who hailed from Ghudosara Village of Maungdaw Township.
 
They were arrested from their house by Nasaka of Ma Gyi Chaung camp, under Maungdaw Township on allegations that they had been involved in human trafficking by sending people to Malaysia from Arakan State, and also from Bangladesh.
 
However, Abul Boshor was released after two days by paying 15 gallons of kerosene. One gallon of kerosene is being sold at Kyat 5,000. So, he had paid Kyat 75,000 to the Nasaka for release, according to his relative. 
 
The other two victims failed to pay the money. The Nasaka demanded Kyat 1.5 million for their release. They are still in the Nasaka’s custody.
 
When asked whether the arrestees were involved in human trafficking or not, a village elder said, “They are innocent, but they have relatives in Malaysia, who went there 10 years ago.”  
 
Another villager said on condition of anonymity, “The Nasaka, police and Sarapa (Military Intelligence) arrest Rohingya community even without any crime, but the authorities file cases against them based on false and fabricated allegations. If they get money from the arrestees, there will be no case and then they are released.”