The junta forces have arrested around 70 residentsonce again from Sittwe, the capital city of Rakhine State, after intensifyingsecurity measures across the region.

According to an eyewitness, a group of soldiersconducted an extensive search among the pedestrians at  the Set Yoe Kyaroad intersection between 6 to  9 am on 4 January. They also detained somerice-grain carrying vehicles along with local residents.

"The soldiers checked all three & twowheelers along with rice-grain carrying vehicles as well as many individualsunder suspicion. I saw some boatmen and pedestrians were picked up by thesoldiers," added the individual.

A local resident informed that at around  3:30 am on Friday, over 30workers, heading to their work places near the creek- known as Kalar Chaung,were arrested.

"Over 30 individuals from Byine Phyu and Shwe PyiThar villages were detained near Kalar Chaung,” added the resident.

Similarly, 40 vegetable vendors and other workers fromSittwe Myoma market were detained in addition to seizing a fishing boat fromPauktaw township.

"Around 40 people, including vegetable vendorsand workers carrying fish, were arrested. At about 3 am, the navy used machineguns to fire over the fish-selling boats near the Pwel Kyit mountain. A boatfrom Soe Mel Kyi village was also seized by the security personnel. It was thenkept alongside other captured boats near Ah Deik Htan pagoda. I saw manypackages of dried fishes from the boat were loaded in  a car," addedthe resident

Some of the individuals, arrested by the soldiers, were later freed after paying  MMK 300,000 to 1,000,000.

"I cannot confirm the exact count of thosereleased. They were apprehended without any valid reason. Now the soldiers areseeking money from the poor civilians,” he asserted.

Some other residents were also arrested and laterreleased after receiving money. However, the exact number of those releasedremains unknown.

In a statement issued by Three Brotherhood Alliance (MNDAA, TNLA and AA) on 4January, it was mentioned that over 60 civilians were arrested from Sittwelocality.

Narinjara News tried to authenticate the informationfrom Rakhine State security & border affairs minister colonel  KyawThura and State military council spokesperson U Hla Thein, but failed.

In recent days, many individuals have been arrestedfrom  Sittwe locality and currently over 100 residents are  inmilitary custody.