Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 24 January 2025 

The Arakan Army (AA) has successfully removed more than 100 landmines from the primary access road to Maungdaw Town, situated in front of the 5th Border Guard Police Battalion (NaKhaKha-5) in the western region of Arakan State. 

The AA has been removing landmines on this road since January 2. To date, they have cleared over 100 anti-personnel landmines, which consist of blast mines and stake mines. 

"Every day, we observe the AA clearing landmines along the entry road to the town in front of NaKhaKha-5. They have effectively removed over 100 landmines from either side of the road," a local resident stated. 

AA removed landmines

NaKhaKha-5 was seized by the AA on December 8, after a 55-day assault on the battalion. 

On January 1, displaced individuals were given temporary permission to go back to the town, and the AA started clearing landmines the next day. 

A resident from the area stressed the importance of removing landmines in the urban wards of Maungdaw. 

"Urban wards in Maungdaw also require landmine clearance. Junta troops were deployed in every district. I witnessed them place approximately 30 landmines in the ancient Muslim village located between Ngar Saung Su and San Pya villages in Ward 3, where we resided. While we remained in the town, more than 10 landmines detonated as cows wandered into the vicinity. We witnessed some cows die and others flee with their legs amputated,”  the resident stated.

Junta troops were deployed in schools and strongholds throughout Maungdaw’s city wards, making the removal of war remnants and landmines in these locations a priority. 

On October 1 of the previous year, the AA carried out a landmine clearance mission in Thit Taw village and the adjacent 4-mile region near Maungdaw Town, where junta troops had been located. 

In the course of this operation, 28 landmines were found, comprising 25 along the road leading to the village, one within a home, and two located in front of a monastery. 

Out of the 28 landmines, 26 were anti-personnel types, in addition to one stake mine and one blast mine.