The Military Council conducted a raid on Sharaw Hka village in Hpakant township and apprehended approximately 200 civilians yesterday afternoon.

A local woman who knew about the incident told KNG that approximately 100 regime soldiers rounded-up approximately 200 civilians, and took them into custody.at around 4:00 pm yesterday in the village of Sharaw Hka, which is home to nearly 500 people.

“They apprehended both young men and women, and I would estimate the number to be around 200. Some elderly women and individuals were allowed to remain. Their homes were reportedly destroyed,”she said.

The inhabitants of Sharaw Hka village are individuals who migrated from Pale and Gangaw in the Sagaing Region. The Military Council has reportedly instructed them to evacuate the area by

February 25. A resident who relocated from Sharaw Hka village to Maden Yang prior to the deadline stated that individuals who remained in the area after the deadline may have been apprehended.

“ Some have moved. Most of them still haven’t moved. Families with many members are not comfortable to move. As for me, the two children are grown up, so I sent them to the lower part. Since I was alone, I moved towards Maden Yang. Most of them have not moved yet,” he said.

Currently, the arrested civilians are being held in a jade company block near Sapyitkhu village where Military Council soldiers are stationed.

On February 27, a Military Council convoy near Sapyitkhu village was hit by mines, and more than 60 Sapyitkhu villagers were arrested. After that the people who were arrested were kept there until today.