Maungdaw district administrator, assistant director flee with weapons

The Maungdaw district administrator and assistant director reportedly took weapons and fled the township on Friday, said a government employee.

Amidst the intense fighting in Maungdaw district, the district administrator U Nay Oo and assistant director U Kyaw Zaw Aye fled on 5 April taking with them the pistols and bullets they were carrying.

"They ran away and also took their pistols and bullets. People are curious about how they coordinated their escape route. The situation here is extremely dire where even the soldiers start fleeing. The Arakan Army (AA) has blocked all the roads, so it's possible they fled towards their base" added the government employee. 

Some reports indicate that the Maungdaw district immigration deputy director and several other departmental officials have also fled. However, Narinjara News is yet to authenticate it.

"We too heard the news. The officers have been fleeing since March,” he stated.

On 15 March, Maungdaw township administrator U Kan Tun Aung submitted his resignation and fled due to fear of arrest.

On 25 March, the junta issued an arrest warrant for Maungdaw district general hospital medical superintendent Dr Nu Kaythi San and assistant doctor Dr Aung Naing Lin, who fled towards the AA-controlled territory.

The government employees in Rakhine State have been fleeing for various reasons, primarily due to their unwillingness to serve under the junta, leading to the closure of most departmental offices.

The junta soldiers and AA fighters have been engaged in fierce fighting in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships within Maungdaw district, where the military regime is facing many casualties.