The Maungdaw district administrator and assistantdirector reportedly took weapons and fled the township on Friday, said agovernment employee.

Amidst the intense fighting in Maungdaw district, thedistrict administrator U Nay Oo and assistant director U Kyaw Zaw Aye fled on 5April taking with them the pistols and bullets they were carrying.

"They ran away and also took their pistols andbullets. People are curious about how they coordinated their escape route. Thesituation here is extremely dire where even the soldiers start fleeing. TheArakan Army (AA) has blocked all the roads, so it's possible they fled towardstheir base" added the government employee. 

Some reports indicate that the Maungdaw districtimmigration deputy director and several other departmental officials have alsofled. However, Narinjara News is yet to authenticate it.

"We too heard the news. The officers have beenfleeing since March,” he stated.

On 15 March, Maungdaw township administrator U Kan TunAung submitted his resignation and fled due to fear of arrest.

On 25 March, the junta issued an arrest warrant forMaungdaw district general hospital medical superintendent Dr Nu Kaythi San andassistant doctor Dr Aung Naing Lin, who fled towards the AA-controlledterritory.

The government employees in Rakhine State have beenfleeing for various reasons, primarily due to their unwillingness to serveunder the junta, leading to the closure of most departmental offices.

The junta soldiers and AA fighters have been engagedin fierce fighting in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships within Maungdawdistrict, where the military regime is facing many casualties.