Naung MinThu, Narinjara News, 19 June 2024

At leastfour civilians, including two women, were arrested by the junta forces inMaungdaw town of Rakhine State and  taken by a car with their facescovered, said local residents.

"Afterthe Arakha Army (AA) announced that it would attack Maungdaw, four individualsof a family living behind the Myanma Economic Bank were arrested. Their faceswere covered and they were taken to the 5th border guard police station,"said a Maungdaw resident.

Thosearrested individuals namely Daw Ma Wai Wai Chey (32), her older sister Daw MaCha Lu Ma (40), her sons Ko Lin Chey (25) and Ko Nyi Nyi Chey (23), recentlyfled the conflict ridden Ah Lel Than Kyaw area.

The juntasoldiers also broke down the doors of residents belonging to U Than Khel and UMaung Maung. The houses in ward number  4 were rented to  INGOs,where they conducted raids.

"Thejunta soldiers conducted searches in both the houses and they also went toinspect the houses near Ah Li Thar lake," added the resident.

After theUnited League of Arakan/Arakha Army (ULA/AA) urged Maungdaw residents toevacuate the town by 16 June, the junta soldiers increased their inspections.They are also arresting innocent Arakanese people in Maungdaw.

On 29 May,they arrested two Hindus from Shwe Zar bridge, five Arakanese  and oneHindu from Aung Myay Baw Di village. On 9 June, they arrested five Arakanesefrom Wi Ma La ward, and on 10 June, two Arakanese from San Pya village werealso detained.

Out ofthem, two Arakanese from San Pya village and one Hindu from Aung Myay Baw Divillage were released, while the rest remain under their custody.