More than 100 people, including monks, elders,pregnant women, children, etc who were kidnapped by the junta forces to use ashuman shields, were rescued by the Arakan Army (AA) after a gun battle onTuesday noon, said a press release issued by AA on 21 November.

The AA members attacked the junta forces, stationed onLaw Ka Hteit Pan pagoda hill and other strategic locations in the urban areasof Pauk Taw in the afternoon hours and successfully rescued the hostages.

The soldiers kidnapped the local residents on 16November to use them as human shields against the AA offensive.

The battle between junta forces and AA members continues tobe intensewhere many soldiers werekilled and someof them injured. The AA statement also added that a large volume ofarms and ammunition were also seized from the location.

Soon the junta forces attacked AA members from the sky. They also used water-shells and bigweapons. Thesoldiers carried out multiple rocket & shelling attacks from both the air and some Sittwe-based battalions.

The AA assured the public that their members would protectthem. It also added that the attack on soldiers to continue till all hostages are rescued.

AA sspokesperson U Khaing Thukha informed that about 200 Pauk Taw residents were kidnapped by the soldiers.

General Zaw Min Htun, spokesperson of the Myanmar militarycouncil, alsoconfirmedthe battleagainst AAmembersin PaukTawlocality during a press briefing but he did not give more information about the battle.