A young air passenger, who was arrested by the juntaforces, attempted self killing in Kyaukphyu township of Rakhine State. Hailing from Ramree locality, the passenger (around 20 years old) attemptedsuicide following his arrest suspecting him a supporter of the Arakan Army(AA).

A reliable source informed Narinjara News that heinserted the handcuffs into an electric power point as he was guarded by thepolice personnel.

"After finding evidence of his communication withthe AA in his phone, the passenger was handcuffed. While he tried toelectrocute himself, a female passenger switched off the supply and saved him,”added the source.

The passenger was identified as Maung Nay Lin Zaw,who is a resident of Kyein Tan Chaung village of  Konbaung regionunder  Ramree township. He was taken to the 34th infantry battalion inKyaukphyu by 5  pm.

It may be mentioned that on 18 February, 67 passengersarriving at Kyaukphyu airport from Yangon were arrested by the generaladministrator and soldiers. They were interrogated at Ramawaddy city hall inKyaukphyu locality. The security around the hall was also tightened.

The  junta forces promised to release thepassengers, aged between 18 and 25, who can provide details of theirhouseholds. Now the junta authority clarifies that no one will be released asat least one AA affiliated youth accompanied them.

Many young passengers from another plane which landedat Kyaukphyu were also arrested by the soldiers and taken to Ramawaddy cityhall, increasing the total number of detained youths to over 100.

The passengers and their phones were checked by thesoldiers as they disembarked from the plane.

Now the Rakhine passengers intending to return homefrom the mainland by air services have been advised to make adequatepreparations. Their phone sets should be cleaned up with erasing suspectedphotographs and also social media posts along with any evidence relating to theAA to avoid the harassment by soldiers.