Three suspects arrested over the rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman in Ponnagyun Township, Rakhine State, have confessed to the crime, according to the Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS)—the law enforcement agency of the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA).
The victim, a resident of Aungseik village, went missing on July 18.
Her body was discovered four days later, on July 22, with her hands tied behind her back in a mango orchard near Tanswe village, authorities said.
Following the discovery, DLEPS officers launched an investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Authorities initially arrested the primary suspect, Maung Tin Win, a resident of Sininngyi village.
According to DLEPS, Maung Tin Win confessed to planning the attack, luring the victim by feigning a request for help, before raping and killing her.
During interrogation, he implicated two accomplices—Maung Aye Kyaw (also known as Maung Pu) and Maung Than Soe (also known as Nga Lone)—both residents of the Kyankhin internally displaced persons camp. DLEPS officers arrested both men on July 24.
The brutal attack has sparked widespread public outrage and condemnation from civil society groups across Rakhine State, who are calling on the ULA/AA to ensure swift justice and maximum legal penalties.
"Women across Arakan State are currently suffering both physically and psychologically due to heightened security concerns," said Dr. Ma Myat Aye Thwe Khaing, director of the Arakan Women’s Voice (AWV). "The most urgent priority is ensuring effective accountability for those responsible, through clear and transparent legal proceedings."
Local human rights and women's rights advocates emphasized that decisive legal action is critical to deterring future sexual violence in the region.
"We have been hearing reports of rape cases far too often lately, which is deeply alarming," said Ko Khaing Tun Lin, chairperson of the Laywaddy Patriotic Youth Charity Association. "If this case is not dealt with decisively, it could embolden others to commit similar crimes."
DLEPS stated that it is securing formal detention warrants, gathering forensic evidence, and finalizing its investigation to submit the case for prosecution.
