A border guard policeman, who deserted the western border camp in Maungdaw township of  RakhineState with a weapon,  exchanged firewith the military council troops as they were chasing him.

A Maungdaw resident informed that the young border policeman hails from Rakhine and he was engaged in dutyon six-mile checkpoint over Buthidaung-Maungdawhighway.

The Rakhine youth fled on 7 September and the border police forces along with the junta soldiers chased him and they exchanged fire duringthe morning hours of 8 September.

“The border policeman ran away with weapons.  A gun fighting took place between them. The  deserterfaced firing from the  junta troops thismorning," he added.

The deserter  ran away and  junta forces continue their search operations to catch him.

A former Parliamentarian from Buthidaung township also confirmed that he could hear several gunshots, but hehas no more details.

On 3  July night, three officers including a station commander from the border guard policestation in area  no 5 under Nga Khura (7) in Maungdaw township fled away.

Similarly, on 6 March, four newly engaged border police officers escaped with weapons from the MyintLutt border guard police station inthe same township.

Photo caption:  Some border guard police personnel were seen in Maungdaw during 2016.