On November 16, juntaforces killed around a dozen villagers in Pauk Taw, 20 miles east of RakhineState's capital Sittwe.

The event occurredafter the Arakan Army gained control of the Pauk Taw police station.

The AA was able tosuccessfully seize the police station at midnight. The AA members seizedseveral rifles and ammo, as well as other equipment and military documents.

Following thetakeover, junta forces launched an attack on the town using militaryhelicopters and ships.

Around 12 p.m.,roughly 100 soldiers and 60 police officers recaptured the town of Pauk Tawfrom the AA. Over a dozen people, including children, were slain by the juntaarmy while hiding in bomb shelters.

The bodies of  pefiveople have been identified as Daw Ma SawMra and Daw Ma Kyawt Thein (both retired teachers), Ko Kyaw Saw Lin, Bar Chay,and U Obatha, a monk from Sadarama Pariyatti monastery.

"Burmesesoldiers fired across the road as they entered the downtown area from thejetty."

The shooting killedtwo female retired teachers. One family of five, including children, was alsoslain by army forces while sheltering in the Lawka Pantwer Buddha image hills,according to an eyewitness.

According to locals,several were buried on November 17th. Some bodies remain at the killing sitebecause no one has dared to recover them.

According to socialmedia sources, at least 20 civilians were slain by junta forces in Pauk Taw onNovember 16. However, Narinjara News is unable to confirm all casualties.

"The death tollcould be much higher. Some people are still unaccounted for. It's difficult toget an accurate list because people have left the city," a social worker explained.

Hundreds of thousandsof people fled their neighborhood shortly after the incident in search of asafer haven in rural areas.