Rice mill closed in Buthidaung by police in Arakan

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Kaladan Press Org
January 18, 2008

Buthidaung, Arakan State: A rice mill belonging to a Rohingya in Shabi Bazar village of Buthidaung Township was closed by police on January 5, without any advanced warning to him, says a family member of the mill owner.

The owner was identified as Md. Zaker (35).

That day a group of police led by Zaw Thein of Buthidaung police station went to Shabi Bazar accompanied by local Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) Chairman Lalu and arrested the mill owner on allegation that he was running the mill without official permission.

Zaker has been running the rice husking mill legally for three years, said a close neighbor.

After the arrest, he was brought to the police outpost of Shabi Bazar where he was detained for two days.

The police officer demanded kyat 150,000 for his release, however, the rice mill owner managed only kyat 130,000, after selling his belongings. Yet the police demanded that Zaker come up with the remaining 20,000 kyat, which he borrowed from friends and neighbors.

He was then released and given permission to run the rice husking mill as before. At present, the owner is free from fear of arrest and extortion money for some periods, said a close friend of the mill owner on condition of anonymity.