Junta forces conduct night raid in Sittwe, arrest 150 including women

 Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 18 June 2024

The junta forces raided several houses at Min Gan ward of Sittwe town in Arakan State under the pretext of inspecting the housing census and overnight guest lists. They also arrested nearly 150 people including women.

On 15 June, the junta soldiers and armed Muslims arrived with 10 vehicles and entered Min Gan block 5. They checked every house and arrested many individuals including women and young people as well as disabled persons.

Sittwe town is  still under the control of the military junta and they are frequently arresting and torturing the civilians.

"Since the Byine Phyu village incident, we are concerned about our safety as the junta soldiers raped women and killed people there. They may do the same here,” said a local resident.

A relative of an arrested individual informed Narinjara News that the junta forces demanded a ransom of Kyats 700,000 for arranging contacts with the family members.

From the beginning of November 2023, the junta forces arrested many local residents of  Sittwe town and rural areas and later they demanded money for their release.

On 9 June, six youths from Kyet Taw Pyin and Aung Taing villages under  Sittwe township were arrested by the junta forces. Since then the families have had no contact with them.

Between 29 and 31 May, the junta forces killed 76 individuals in Byine Phyu village and captured nearly 100 individuals who were later taken to the 20th infantry battalion.

Due to the junta’s arbitrary arrests and killings, the civilians are worried about their safety. Many of them now expect  the AA fighters to occupy Sittwe town so that they can get rid of  military atrocities.