By Hafizur Rahman
Sittwe, Myanmar – July 20, 2025
A 12-year-old Rohingya girl named Rukshan was reportedly subjected to a brutal beating by police officers in the Basara (Sanpya) Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Sittwe Township on July 19, after being falsely accused of stealing money during a visit to a neighboring village.
Rukshan, who lives in Shelter No. 1, Room No. 7 of the IDP camp, had gone to visit a friend’s house in nearby Basara village when a small sum of money was reported missing. Without verifying the facts, the friend’s mother filed a police complaint, naming the young Rohingya girl as the suspect.
However, sources close to both families later confirmed that the missing money had been taken by the daughter of the household, who used it to buy snacks—some of which she shared with Rukshan. Despite the girl’s innocence, police officers arrived at the camp around 9:00 AM and allegedly proceeded to detain and assault her without conducting any investigation.
Eyewitnesses from the camp described the violence as shocking and inhumane. “They beat her without asking any questions,” said one resident. “She was bleeding and could barely walk when they dropped her back at her shelter.”
Camp residents reported that Rukshan suffered severe injuries, including trauma to her lower body and genital area. She was returned to her family around 1:00 PM, in a semi-conscious and critical state. According to residents, local authorities refused to allow her to be taken to a hospital—fearing public outrage and exposure of police misconduct.
As of Sunday, the girl remains in her shelter without medical treatment, enduring immense physical pain and psychological trauma.
“This is not just police brutality—it is a crime against a child,” said a community elder in the camp. “She needs immediate medical attention and protection. If there is no justice for her, no Rohingya child is safe.”
The incident has sparked deep outrage in the already marginalized IDP community, where residents are confined to camps with heavily restricted movement and denied access to essential services. Basara (Sanpya) camp is one of several IDP sites in Sittwe where thousands of Rohingya have been living under segregated, apartheid-like conditions since the 2012 violence.
Human rights advocates are calling for immediate intervention. “This incident underscores the lawlessness Rohingya civilians live under, especially children,” said a spokesperson for a Rohingya rights group. “We demand an independent investigation, justice for Rukshan, and medical care without delay.”
International observers have repeatedly warned that Myanmar’s police and security forces operate with impunity in Rohingya areas, where racialized violence and institutional neglect remain widespread.
As of now, Myanmar authorities have made no public comment on the incident.
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