Junta forces abduct 5 residents during retreat in Maungdaw

Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 6 June 2024

During the battle near Ngwe Taung village under Maungdaw township of Arakan State, the junta forces abducted five residents to use as human shields.

The abducted individuals include  U Hla Maung Than, U Hla Tun and U Tun Nu Sein (all hail from Thar Yar Kone Arakanese village) along with  U Du Ree and U Hla Than from Ma Gyi Kone village.

On the evening of 3 June, a military column retreating from the battle near Ngwe Taung village, picked up five men from the road.

"The soldiers from 5th border guard police battalion clashed with the Arakha Army fighters

while conducting a military operation near Ngwe Taung. Unable to resist them the soldiers retreated and apprehended those individuals," said a local resident.

More than 80 junta soldiers retreated and it remains unknown if the villagers were released or not.

Since 4 June, an intense fighting erupted between the junta forces and AA fighters at a place near to Maungdaw 4-mile cashew farm and Ngwe Taung. Most of the residents from six villages fled to safer areas.

According to a statement from the humanitarian and development coordination office (HDCO) of the United League of Arakan (ULA) on 28 May, a total of 425 civilians were arrested in Arakan State from 13 November 2023 to 13 May 2024. Among them there were 346 men and 79 women, comprising 39 Muslims and 386 Arakanese.