Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 18 December 2024

At least sixteen junta soldiers fleeing from the 5th Border Guard Police Battalion (NaKhaKha-5), which was overpowered by the Arakan Army (AA), were captured at two locations along with their weapons on Tuesday evening.

A local resident reported that four soldiers were captured in between Ah Lel Than Kyaw and Hna Khaung To beaches at around 11  pm on 17 December while 12 soldiers with three small arms were captured in Kanyin Chaung border trade zone located at outskirts of Maungdaw on 17 December.

"The AA fighters captured sixteen junta soldiers along with arms & ammunition while they were hiding,” he added.

On the evening of 15 December, the AA pursued junta soldiers who were fleeing from NaKhaKha-5 without surrendering. Six junta soldiers, including a military officer, were captured along with the weapons from  Shwe Baho village in southern Maungdaw township.

Next morning, a local resident revealed that the AA fighters captured four junta soldiers who were fleeing, along with one who hid under a bridge near Kha Yae Myaing village in southern Maungdaw, bringing the total number of detainees to five.

At around 9:30 am on 8 December, at least 80 junta soldiers along with members of the terrorist group named ARSA, fled without surrendering during the final takeover of NaKhaKha-5 by the AA fighters in Myo Thu Gyi of Maungdaw locality.

"Around  80 junta soldiers are still at large. So far, 16 have been captured. Six junta soldiers, including a military officer, were arrested in Shwe Baho village, four in Kha Yae Myaing village, one under a bridge, one in upper Kan Thar Yar, and four in Ah Lel Than Kyaw, bringing the total number to 16," added the source.

On 12 December at around 2 pm, an escaped junta soldier entered Upper Kan Thar Yar village under Maungdaw township and fired a grenade at villagers, who were drawing water from a pond, injuring one individual.