In Hpakant Township, Kachin State, Junta troops abducted three civilians at Hsengtaung Village Bridge, locals said.
Three civilians were apprehended by approximately 50 Junta troops following an hour-long inspection on one side of the bridge around 3:00 PM on May 1.
"After conducting a brief surprise check, soldiers arrested three men they thought were suspicious and took them away. They were then brought to the Hsengtaung police outpost before departing from there. What happened next is still unknown”, a witness told KNG.
The arrested individuals were believed to be men aged between 30 and 40, and their identities have not been determined yet.
According to eyewitnesses, during the surprise check, the Junta troops halted motorcycles, cars, and pedestrians crossing the bridge, concentrating primarily on inspecting their phones.
On April 30, local defense forces apprehended a police officer in Hsengtaung Village during a money transfer. Villagers suggested that the Junta troops might have conducted the surprise check at the bridge in response to this incident.
Locals also reported hearing two artillery shots shortly after the incident, during which three civilians were taken by Junta troops.
In the aftermath of the coup, resistance forces in Hpakant frequently conducted arrests of Junta officials, police officers, firefighters, and administrators, while the Junta focused on targeting and arresting civilians.
