Inmates from Buthidaung Township prison in Rakhine State, along with the Junta’s military weapons and equipment, are being relocated to Sittwe Township.

Between March 29-31, prisoners from Buthidaung were transferred to Maungdaw before being sent to Sittwe Prison, a Buthidaung resident told Narinjara.

"The inmates were taken by cars from Buthidaung to Maungdaw, then moved onto Navy vessels via Kanyinchaung, and eventually transported to Sittwe. This procedure resembles the relocation protocol for staff families. I think Muslim prisoners are being coerced into serving as conscripts”, he said.

According to residents of Maungdaw, between March 29 -31, along with prisoners, family members of the Junta soldiers, armoured vehicles, howitzer guns, and missile batteries were loaded onto large trucks and transported to Navy vessels at Kanyinchaung jetty.

"Besides the prisoners, we saw military families and heavy artillery batteries being transported. It seems the Junta is preparing to strengthen defenses in Sittwe”, a witness reported.

On March 14, the Junta compelled the families of employees living in housing within the Rakhine State Immigration Office compound in Pyitawthar ward, Sittwe to relocate in order to deploy artillery batteries there.

In early February, certain family members of military and police personnel in Buthidaung were airlifted to Sittwe for evacuation using helicopters.

The Junta maintains control over Sittwe, while grappling with setbacks from the Arakan Army's (AA) offensive in other northern townships of Rakhine State, leading to urgent plans to mobilize remaining forces for defense. Residents are also worried by the Junta's extensive accumulation of military weapons in Sittwe.