Burmese Police Detains Theological Student in Kalay
27 May 2011: A Chin student studying in a theological college in India was detained by local police in Kalay, Sagaing Division at 9:30 a.m. local time yesterday morning, Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) has said.
Khung Uk Thang (22), a native of Matupi Town, is now in police custody after he was arrested at 8-mile security check point in Kalay on his way to the Indian border. The police confiscated a mobile phone and a student card from him, according to an eyewitness.
“As soon as we approached the checkpoint, the police finger-pointed at him, ordered him off the vehicle and arrested him. They searched his bag and found a mobile phone handset and a student card. Then they said to the driver he can pass through,” said one of the passengers who witnessed the incident.
“I don’t think he was arrested just because he was studying in India. I think the police got suspicious of him because he was in possession of a mobile phone, which not many people can have in Burma and is dangerous to carry around,” the witness said.
Khung Uk Thang studies at Bethel Bible College at Kuntur in Andrapradesh State in India. He was on his way to India to continue his third year course in Bachelor of Divinity in India when he was arrested.
