Two youths from In Kwe village, Ah Nan Pin village tract, Thaton Township, Mon State, were arrested by the military junta troops under the accusation of being members of the People’s Defense Force (PDF), according to local sources.

On the evening of September 23, around 5:00 p.m., a joint force of military troops and police under the control of the military junta intensified security measures on the Thaton-Hpa-An road near Thong Wa village. During the search, they stopped and searched a motorcycle carrying two youths, Maung Win Htet Soe and Maung Soe Moe Tun, who were traveling from Thaton to Hpa-An.

Under the allegation that photos of them wearing camouflage uniforms and holding weapons were found on their phones, the two youths were arrested.

Junta-supporting Telegram channels claimed that Maung Win Htet Soe and Maung Soe Moe Tun were members of the PDF involved in mine-blasting incidents on bridges.

Local sources, however, stated that Maung Win Htet Soe and Maung Soe Moe Tun are just ordinary civilians. They are not members of the PDF, as the military junta troops have accused them.

Previously, on September 18, two other youths traveling by motorcycle towards Kama Sai village from Thaton were also detained by the military junta troops charged with being members of the PDF.

Due to a series of bomb explosions and shootings in Thaton Township recently, security has been tightened at entry and exit points and checkpoints, with increasing numbers of arrests reported by local sources.

In Mon State, particularly in Thaton District and Thanbyuzayat Township, the military junta troops have been continuously arresting social welfare organization members and civilians under allegations of PDF affiliation, with at least 15 individuals detained within the past week.