Junta troops and allied militia members operating in Lone Khin Village Tract, Hpakant Township, Kachin State, have allegedly been carrying out a growing number of armed robberies against civilians. Residents said the situation has deteriorated to the point where people fear for their safety.

The troops, which entered Lone Khin in early April, are stationed at a strategic hilltop position and at the office of a local social welfare group. Residents said the troops have spent more than three months forcibly taking cash and valuables from civilians.

According to a Hpakant resident who spoke to KNG, the troops have been entering homes and businesses in Lone Khin, threatening people at gunpoint and seizing jewelry, vehicles, motorcycles, mobile phones and other valuables. Armed robberies have also reportedly taken place along major roads in the village.

"Junta troops and militia members have been running rampant in Lone Khin. Whenever they leave their stations, they target civilians they encounter and take whatever valuables they have. They mainly go after cash, phones, motorcycles and gemstones,” he said.

The source added that the regime troops have also been commandeering civilian vehicles, targeting wealthier households for cash, and confiscating valuables from homes.

"After taking people's cars, they drive around and go from house to house carrying out robberies. If residents refuse to open their doors, they force their way in. Once inside, they search the house and take anything they want. People are living in fear every day,” he said.

Residents reported that junta troops and militia members typically operate in groups, splitting into smaller teams and carrying out robberies from around 4 p.m. until late at night.

According to locals, at least 15 major robbery incidents targeting civilians have been reported between late April and June.

On April 26, regime troops reportedly stormed a house in Ward 5 of Lone Khin Village, threatening residents at gunpoint and making off with a tablet computer and more than 3 million MMK in cash, including donations intended for a church.

A day earlier, on April 25, 5 armed men entered a house in Ward 3 and allegedly took two mobile phones, gold jewelry and 5 million MMK in cash.

Residents said May saw the highest number of incidents, with at least 9 reported robberies.

On May 11, 5 members of a junta-aligned militia group led by Min Zay Thant entered a home in Ward 5 and took a motorcycle, a mobile phone and 150,000 MMK in cash.

On May 22, armed men reportedly stole 500,000 MMK from a motorcycle repair shop. In a separate incident, a man traveling toward Hpakant on Jade Love Road was threatened and robbed of 1.8 million MMK. Militia members also reportedly seized a civilian's motorcycle near a Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) church during the evening.

On May 23, 3 armed men forcibly broke into a house in Ward 5 and stole 1.8 million MMK in cash. They also forced the house owners to transfer an additional 800,000 MMK through a mobile payment application.

In another incident the same day, 5 armed men arriving in a white Toyota Crown reportedly entered a shop at night and robbed an iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Residents also reported that on May 24, junta troops and militia members robbed a man of 1 million MMK near the main road close to a KBC church.

On June 9, 4 armed men arriving in a white Toyota Crown allegedly raided a house in Aungyar Village, Hpakant Township, taking 15 million MMK in cash, a battery, two barrels of oil and two mobile phones.

Two days later, on June 11, 2 armed men arriving by vehicle reportedly threatened residents at a house in Ward 5 of Lone Khin Village and stole 3 million MMK in cash.

Junta forces and allied militia groups deployed large numbers of troops to the Hpakant area in early April and subsequently established control over the entire Lone Khin Village Tract. Residents said robbery incidents have continued since then.

"In Lone Khin, these robberies and threats have become routine. There are people near Hpakant Township’s Ma Shi Ka Htaung Village who are reselling stolen property at very low prices. Now the soldiers are even forcing people to open their mobile payment apps and transfer money to them,” a local told KNG.

Residents said the incidents detailed above represent only a portion of the robberies reported in the area and that the actual number of cases involving junta troops and militia members may be significantly higher.