Due to thefear of attacks by the Arakan Army (AA), the junta forces are now withdrawingfrom the border guard police stations in southern Buthidaung township ofRakhine State.

Thesestations include Nyaung Chaung border guard police station, Pha Yone Chaungborder guard police station, Nget Pyaw Chaung border guard police station,Phayar Paw Taung border guard police station and Tha Peik Taung border guardpolice station.

On 22January at 8 pm, approximately 100 junta soldiers withdrew from the NyaungChaung border guard police station.

"Theytook away the soldiers from the police station by 10 pm. When they left thepolice station, the sound of gunshots was heard from Nget Pyaw Chaungarea," said a local villager from Buthidaung locality.

He informedthat these junta soldiers joined the number 8 border guard police battalion inButhidaung.

"Asfar as we came to know, they went to join the nearby No 8 BG policebattalion," he added.

Buthidaungis a town housing the junta's border guard forces and dozens of battalions,including the 15th military operations command (MOC-15). The local residentsrevealed that the junta forces are apprehensive of another round of attacks bythe AA fighters.