An Arakanese police officer was arrested by the Military Intelligence Service (Sarafa) personnel from Ann township of Arakan (Rakhine) State, where the western regional military headquarter is located.

The arrestee has been identified as Thet Hlaing (40), the second officer of Ann Myoma police station.

A local resident informed Narinjara News that the officer was arrested after he asked for some queries by the intelligence service people by 10 am on 9 September.

“There is something to check about the police officer by the intelligence department. He was called by the telephone and when he arrived there, he faced arrest. I don't know the reason behind his arrest,” he added.

Thet Hlaing, the deputy station commander of Ann township police station, is a Rakhine national hailing from Rema Thein village. He lives with his family in ward number 5 near the police station.

Rakhine State government spokesperson U Hla Thein and State security & border affairs minister colonel Kyaw Thura were contacted for details, but for vain.

Earlier on 6 September, Mur village (under Ann township) administrator U Nyi Tin Maung, a flower shop owner U U Win Aung and a resident of Nyaung Chaung village Tan Tin were summoned to the western regional military headquarter for questioning and later detained.

They are yet to be released and even family members have not been allowed to meet, claimed the relatives.

As the armed conflicts between the government forces and Arakan Army members continue taking place in various townships of Rakhine State, the number of arrestees is also growing every week.