Four civilians arrested by junta forces in Sittwe

Four civilians from Ah Myint Kyun and Chi Lel Pin villages under Sittwe township of  Rakhine State were arrested by the junta forces and now the families are not getting the opportunity to contact them for more than 10 days.

Those arrested include U Kyaw Naing (aged 51), Daw May Thit Lwin (36), Ko Htein Kyaw Lin (25), all hail from Ah Myint Kyun village. The fourth one is from Chi Lel Pin village.

The affected family members informed Narinjara News that they were arrested on 24 and 25 March by a column of soldiers who conducted  an ambush patrol in Ah Myint Kyun village.

As of now, their whereabouts remain unknown and the family members are worried about the fate of detainees.

"My father was among those arrested. Later, two more villagers were also taken away. Approximately five soldiers were present while  my father was arrested. My father was taken away two weeks back and the other two were also detained later. They were transported to Sittwe in a military vehicle, but their exact location of detention still remains unknown," said a lady.

She also mentioned that the families of those arrested are deeply worried as they have been unable to contact the detainees till date.

Another resident of Ah Myint Kyun village said that the soldiers came from Ah Myint Kyun police station and nearby camps and entered the village. They confiscated public food items, set many residences on fire and later sold some houses.

"They destroyed the doors and sold them. If they failed to  destroy the houses, they set those on fire. If the doors are locked, they ask for the keys. If they don't get the keys, they break the doors and seize the belongings. The soldiers' wives also took away various items from the houses to sell them. The soldiers even spent their nights in those houses. It's been happening for two weeks now,” added the resident.

Many families of Ah Myint Kyun village have fled from their places leaving only a few elderly individuals in their residences.

The junta forces from Par Da Leik artillery battalion in Sittwe locality are now conducting patrolling in various villages under the township.

A villager informed Narinjara News that during the patrolling, many  houses were broken and even looted in Chi Lel Pin village.

In March, following the burning of Taw Kan village by the junta soldiers, the junta's 908th battlefield engineer battalion destroyed the remaining houses and sold those to Muslim businessmen in Sittwe township.