The Myanmar military has been tightening security checks on locals and travellers in some Arakan State townships since June, according to residents.

The military arrested at least 50 locals in Sittwe, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun and Mrauk-U townships last month after the Arakan Army detained 14 junta soldiers and police personnel.

The military has since demanded that locals and travellers along the Yangon-Sittwe road and people coming to Sittwe by ferryboats get out of their vehicles and have their ID cards scrutinised.

A Myanmar Navy ship moored at the mouth of the Kaladan River, meanwhile, conducts inspections of ferryboats from Pauktaw Township going to and from Sittwe on a daily basis.

Junta soldiers demanded money from boat owners and told them to carry passengers only if they had an ID card, said a ferryboat owner, who did not want to be named due to security concerns.

“Soldiers from the Myanmar naval ship extorted money from the ferryboat owners and forced them not to carry passengers without ID cards,” he told DMG.

He added that the stepped up military inspections had left some would-be passengers worried and unwilling to travel.

Junta soldiers were deployed at junctions in Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun to conduct interrogations of passersby and locals, according to residents.

“The regime forces mainly check the mobile phones and ID cards of travellers, and driver’s licences of the drivers,” Ko Than Htay, a passenger bus driver who plies a route between Kyauktaw and Sittwe, told DMG. “They also check photos and videos on the mobile phones of travellers and conduct interrogations of passersby in downtown Kyauktaw.”

Junta troops also conducted interrogations of passersby at the markets and junctions in Ponnagyun Township, a resident told DMG.

“I saw Myanmar soldiers patrolling the market this morning. Junta soldiers were deployed at junctions to conduct interrogations of passersby and checks on vehicles,” he added.

DMG phoned Arakan State Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Kyaw Thura for comment on the matter, but his personal staff officer said the minister was busy. DMG was unable to obtain comment from junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun regarding the matter.

Locals are worried that fighting could resume in Arakan State as tensions between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) have shown signs of escalating in recent weeks.