The Myanmarmilitary council starts conducting casual checking of the visitors’ lists inMaungdaw township on the western border of Rakhine State, where ARSA rebelsoften infiltrate for disruptive activities.

Accordingto the local residents,about 50 junta soldiers, border guard personnel and wardadministrators recently checked the guests’ lists at several houses and also quartersin the downtown areas of Maungdaw.

The raidoperations started on 28 August till Thursday in the evening hours, added theresidents.

The samegroup raided some residences of Kanyin Dan neighborhood in the township. Thesoldiers used two military vehicles.

"Asthe ARSA rebels remain active in Maungdaw and Buthidaung localities afterinfiltrating from Bangladesh. I also hear the news that the junta authority isnow conducting the raids,” said a villager.

There are12 wards in Maungdaw township and the junta authorities normally arrive in thewards secretly. They also avoid informing the ward administrators before goingfor raids.

"Theydo not tell the residents in advance as well. They just come and check theguests' lists casually," he added.

No suspecthas been arrested till date even after the investigation process.

A Muslimvillager informed that it happened in the downtown areas of Maungdaw. However,the Muslim villages have been avoided by the junta soldiers.

Bangladeshiauthorities had recently identified and arrested some ARSA rebels, who aretaking refuge in various refugee camps there. Many of them came inside Maungdawand Buthidaung townships after the Bangla agencies started operations againstthe rebels.

The ARSA isnow organizing Muslim villagers in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships by showing weapons and alsokidnapping Muslim businessmen for extortion. They also faced armed resistancefrom the Arakan Army.

In 2016 and2017, the ARSA rebels attacked a number of border guard police stations andmilitary bases in Maungdaw township, which resulted in casualties on bothsides. Soon the Burmese army launched a massive clear operation in those areas.

More than700,000 Muslims from Maungdaw fled to Bangladesh. They are yet to return toRakhine State legally.