Junta forces arrest 4 including women in Maungdaw

Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 19 June 2024

At least four civilians, including two women, were arrested by the junta forces in Maungdaw town of Rakhine State and  taken by a car with their faces covered, said local residents.

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

Those arrested individuals namely Daw Ma Wai Wai Chey (32), her older sister Daw Ma Cha Lu Ma (40), her sons Ko Lin Chey (25) and Ko Nyi Nyi Chey (23), recently fled the conflict ridden Ah Lel Than Kyaw area.

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

"The junta soldiers conducted searches in both the houses and they also went to inspect the houses near Ah Li Thar lake," added the resident.

After the United League of Arakan/Arakha Army (ULA/AA) urged Maungdaw residents to evacuate 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 one Hindu from Aung Myay Baw Di village. On 9 June, they arrested five Arakanese from Wi Ma La ward, and on 10 June, two Arakanese from San Pya village were also detained.

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