Thefts reported frequently at Sittwe University

By Khin Tharaphy Oo 21 Feb 2020

Khin Thariphy Oo | DMG
21 February, Sittwe
 
A number of thefts have been reported at Sittwe University in the Arakan State capital, according to students there.
 
Some motorbikes owned by students have reportedly been stolen on the university campus and an office of the students’ union has been burgled. In addition, money and mobile phones have frequently been reported stolen from faculty housing, said Ko Toe Toe Aung, chairman of the Sittwe University Students’ Union.
 
“I think burglaries take place due to poor security arrangements, although police outposts are set up and security personnel are deployed to all corners of the university. I attribute the rampant thievery to university officials’ mismanagement,” he added.
 
A burglary occurred at the Saw Thandar hostel for female university students at about 4 a.m. on February 20. Thirteen mobile phones and some money belonging to female students were stolen, said Daw Thu Zin Kyue, warden of the hostel.
 
Concerning the burglary, Ko Toe Toe Aung said: “Think about how upsetting the reported burglary at the ladies’ hostel was with burglars only stealing mobile phones and money, without [physically] harming anyone. I would like to raise a question of who would take responsibility if someone from the hostel was injured or something bad happened to them?”
 
Members of the Sittwe University Students’ Union submitted a letter to university officials urging them to beef up security measures on campus, but their demand was largely ignored by administrators, Ko Toe Toe Aung said.
 
Currently, five hostels on the campus of Sittwe University house over 200 male and female students, according to university officials.