Nasaka arrests fire victim, extorts Kyat 500,000 in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) arrested a fire victim from Maungdaw Township on December 29, and was released today after taking Kyat 500,000, said a close relative of the victim preferring not to be named. 

“The victim was identified as Abu Sayed (25), son of Jamal, hailed from Naribill west village of Nasaka area No. 6 of Maungdaw Township.”

Syed was sleeping in his shop nearby his house after lighting a candle in his shop which caught on fire while he was going to sleep very soundly on December 29 at about 9:15pm.

A villager saw the fire in Syed’s shop while he was going to a house  near  the shop, and made hue and cry, so that nearby villagers rushed to the spot and they can able to  extinguish  the fire and Sayed was rescued by the villagers, said a local elder who denied to be named.

“Syed lost Kyat about Kyat 400, 000 in his shop,” said one of the relative.

Being informed, a group of Nasaka personnel from outpost camp near the village under Nasaka area No.6 came to the spot where observed the situation and arrested Syed and kept detained in their outpost camp.

“Syed lost his shop and his property, concerned authority fined 500,000 kyat  more than which he lost in his shop,” said a friend of the victim.

In other countries, fire victims are supported by local people and the government. But, in Burma, fire victims are arrested and fined for careless of fire, said a local schoolteacher.