In April 1942, the British Army established the “V” Force guerrilla unit in Arakan to help defend India against the advancing Japanese army. “V” Force consisted of ‘British officers who relied on local inhabitants as intelligence agents.’ These local inhabitants worked behind Japanese enemy lines and provided intelligence to the British about Japanese troop positions and movements. In some situations, they fought in raids and ambushes.
In Arakan, men from the Rohingya community served as scouts and agents for “V” Force. Members of communities like the Chin, Naga, Lushai and Khumi also collaborated with the British in Arakan. Elsewhere in Burma, the Karen, Karenni and Kachin communities fought with the British. Arakan was the first major defeat of the Japanese in Burma.
During the intense years of Japanese occupation of Arakan in WWII, Imam Hussain served as an interpreter and intelligence agent in “V” Force. He was posted mostly in the Taung Bazar area of Buthidaung.
“I joined British Burma Police Force and was attached to No. 565 FSS (Field Security Section} of the No. 5th Division of British Indian Army. During the biggest battle between the British and Japanese in February 5 to Feb 19, 1944 at Ngakyedauk, Arakan, I was seriously wounded, and fortunately escaped from the jaw of death.”
Mohammed Imam Hussain
