The Mujahideeninsurgency in Arakan (1947-1961)
A widespread armed insurgency started with the formation of a political party Jami-a-tulUlema-e Islam led by the Chairman Xavier Gomez with the material support of Ulnar Mohammad Muzahid Khan and Molnar Ibrahim. The ambition of the Mujahideen insurgency was to merge the Mayu frontier district of Arakan into East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Before the independence of Burma, in May 1946, some Muslim leaders from Arakan addressed themselves to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, and asked his assistance in annexing of the Mayu region to Pakistan which was about to be formed. Two months later, the North Arakan Muslim League was founded in Akyab (modern: Sittwe, capital of Arakan State). It demanded annexation toPakistan.
The Burmese central government refused to grant a separate Muslim state in the Mayu region where two townships (Buthidaungand Maungdaw) lie. As a consequence, the Mujahids from Northern Arakan declared jihad on Burma. The Mujahid militants began their insurgent activities in the Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships (Mayu region) of Burma that lies on Burma-East Pakistan border. One of the major figures in the insurgency was Abdul Kassem.
Within a few years, Mujahid rebels made rapid progress and banished the Arakanese villages. The Arakanese inhabitants of Buthidaung and Maungdaw were forced to leave their homes. In June 1949, the Burmese government's control was reduced toAkyab city only, while the Mujahids were in possession of all of northern Arakan. The Burmese government accused the Mujahids of encouraging illegal immigration into Arakan of thousands of Bengali people from East Pakistan .
Military operations against the Mujahideen
Martial Law was declared in November 1948 as the rebellion greatly intensified and the rebels even surrounded the towns in the Mayu region. The 5th Battalion of Burma Rifles and 2nd Chin Battalion were immediately sent to the surrounded area. theMujahid insurgency collapsed and the Muslim insurgents fled to the jungles of northern Arakan.