Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 10 January 2025

A man was arrested after the junta forces raided his home in Kyaukphyu township of Arakan State. The arrested individual has been identified as Ko Kyaw Phyo Wai (28 years old) hailing  from Ah Htet Pyin village under Gon Chwein sub-township in Kyaukphyu locality.

A local resident told Narinjara News that at around 8 pm on 6 January, a group of 30 junta soldiers from the 542nd battalion, along with the officers from the local police station, raided Kyaw Phyo Wai’s residence and later arrested him at gunpoint.

"Police personnel from the township station and soldiers from the 542nd light infantry battalion surrounded the house and arrested him. The exact reason for his arrest is yet to be known," added the resident

A villager told Narinjara News that during the search operation Kyaw Phyo Wai along with two brothers were taken to the 542nd battalion. Both the brothers were later released the next morning.

"Initially, all of them were arrested and interrogated overnight at the base. The younger brothers were released the next morning. However Kyaw Phyo Wai continues to remain in custody," added the villager.

According to a reliable source, Kyaw Phyo Wai was later shifted to the township police station for further interrogation.

In another incident on 2 January, a vehicle carrying four elderly men returning from medical treatment in Kyaukphyu town was stopped at the junta's Kyauk Ta Lone checkpoint. The driver was arrested and still detained at the township police station along with the vehicle.