Kaladan News

Dated: Wednesday, May 04, 2005

 


Robbery committed by Army at Buthidaung Township

 

Buthidaung, May 4: Burmese army holding automatic guns committed a robbery against three houses at Maung Nama Playdaung village of Buthidaug Township, Arakan State and took away cash and valuables on 19th April 2005,

 

On that day, a group of 18-robber holding 4 automatic guns entered the houses of Mr. Harun, son of Mr. Abul Fayaz, Mohammad son of Gola Hussain and Kanfozza son of Abul Fayaz in Maung Nama Playdaung village of Buthidaung Township, breaking the doors at about 2:30 am. Taking hostages of the family members at gunpoint, the robbers tied them up to force the family members to hand in keys of the lockers and took away cash and valuables said a local villager.

 

At first, the robbers entered the house of Harun and robbed gold ornaments weighing 10 ticals, Kyat 190,000 in cash and six rice bags. The family members of Harun raised alarm making the robbers angry, so that the robbers hit their heads with butts of the guns. Hearing the Harun’s wife cry, neighbors rushed to the spot, but seeing the robbers’ automatic rifles and speaking in Burmese, the villagers retreated quickly from the spot. This made the robbers to commit robbery with no trouble. They also entered the houses of Mohammad Tayub and Kanfozza from the adjacent house of Harun and looted 2 Ticals of gold, Kyat 70,000 and 3 rice bags and 4 Ticals of gold, Kyat 230,000 and 4 rice bags respectively, he further added.

 

Robbers’ looted cash, gold and rice estimated at over Kyat 3,806,500/- from 3 houses. (I USD=Kyat 960).

 

The village is encircled by the army battalions. From the north-west side of the village there is No. 544 battalion nearly 2 Furlongs off the village and the two other army Battalion No. 556 and Brigade No. 15, are from the south-east side of the village, about 2.5 Furlongs and 2 miles off the village respectively. Therefore, any outsiders of armed group cannot dare to commit robbery such a village, said a village elder.

 

The following day, on 20th April 2005, the victims accompanied by Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) Chairman and Secretary went to nearby army camps and the police station of Buthidaung Town and gave information about the robbery. But the concerned authorities asked them to return to their village saying that the authorities will be present to the spot to quiz the matter within short time, said one of the informers who went to police station.

 

In the same day, at about 7:00 am, a team of police from Buthidaung town together with a section of army from nearby battalions went to the village to inquiry the robbery. After the details investigation against the robbery, they indicated the villagers, such as “The robbers are Bengalis, they are not speaking in Burmese and they are holding local made guns, if anybody comes to further inquiry to the robbery you all the villagers have to give statements like we mentioned. If you don’t comply with the order, you would be severely punished”. They took signatures from the victims, some village elders, VPDC Chairman and Secretary and some neighboring villagers on the agreement of the indicated statements.

 

When asked about the robbery from a local educated youth, he said “Such robbery committed by holding sophisticated guns may be army personnel. As eyewitness of the victims, they know very well who the robbers are. But, they are unable to open the matter as fear of retaliation of authorities. ##

 

NB. I USD=Kyat 960

 

 

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