Some military checkpoints along the Sittwe-Yangonhighway in Rakhine State are checking the passengers on buses, said motoristsand local residents.

“The junta forces heldup a photograph and checked if any passenger looked like that in it. The peoplein the photograph are being searched by the soldiers,” said a passenger, whofaced the problem on the road.

A motorist, who did not want to be named, said thatthe junta forces inspected it at Kyauk Tan checkpoint in Sittwe township. Someother checkpoints like Kyauk Taw brigade 9 and also in Ann township havewitnessed the same activities.

"Passengers in vehicles are being checked. Inrecent days, when the cars come out early in the morning, they face thescreening at Kyauk Tan checkpoint. Same thing happens at Pepa Dom checkpoint inAnn township," he added.

The passengers have to show their registration andaddresses. Even the military members checked whether persons in the photographmatch with anyone.

Recently, two male passengers were arrested from acheckpoint near Ann township as they were travelling by a bus from Yangon.

On 29 August, Maung Nyi NyiSan (19) from Saitara village under Maebon township and another young man werearrested on suspicion of being members of the Arakan Army from Dong Cheungcheckpoint outside Gwa township, while they were on the way to Yangon  fromTaungup in southern Rakhine areas.

The military council has had an informal ceasefirewith the AA since November 2022. The situation has been returning to nearnormalcy. But locals apprehend that such activities of the junta forces willdeteriorate the situation in coming days.