A landmine was found on the second floor in the south-east section of Nanyargone (old palace site) located in the ancient city Mrauk-U, Arakan State, according to local residents.

The explosive device was found July yesterday at about 10 a.m., and authorities concerned came and took it, said U Tun Thar Sein, Arakan State MP from Mrauk-U Township.

“I don’t know the type of the mine it is because when I arrived at the scene, proper authorities had already taken it away,” U Tun Thar Sein said.

During previous attacks in the Mrauk-U ancient cultural zone, some temples and pagodas were hit bullets and artillery shells and ancient monuments were destroyed. So, a proposal calling on the government to conduct effective protection for the cultural heritage site was submitted on 6 May and the state parliament endorsed it.

“We have already announced that any organization who commits (attacks in the ancient city) is a criminal,” U Tun Thar Sein said.

Mrauk-U town is an ancient city in Arakan State and attempts are being made to list the ancient city as a world cultural heritage zone.