When junta soldiers see two men riding together on a motorcycle in Kalay Town, Sagaing Region they are arresting and conscripting them, unless their families pay a 10 million kyats (MMK) bribe.

Recently, junta troops have been arresting two men riding together on a motorcycle on Bogyoke Road, the main road through Kalay Town, and other side streets in the town, according to locals.

The arrested are often sent to a military training camp near to Kalay Prison in Sakhangyi Village in the northern part of Kalay Township. Reportedly, men whose families can pay a 10 million kyats bribe are being released.

Two men who were arrested whilst riding a motorcycle together in a side street in Chanmyae Aungsi Ward in Kalay Town were arrested by the junta and only returned after their family paid a 10 million kyats bribe for each of them to be released, according to a Kalay Resident.

They said: “Chammyay Aungsi ward is even worse [than the rest of Kalay Town]. They [the two men]were arrested whilst riding a motorcycle on a side street, not on the main Pinlon Road. Recent arrests are not because of political charges, they're targeting any two men riding on the same motorcycle. They're being forced into military service immediately. There were no options at first for their [the two arrested men’s] release. The following morning, the families had to pay ten million kyats each for their release.”

Similarly, the junta arrested two young men riding a motorcycle near a junction in Kalay town on 16 October. Their parents had to use their household records to prove that the two were underage to get them released, otherwise they too would have been sent to military training, according to a local.

Currently, the junta is conducting the sixth batch of conscriptions in Kalay Township. There are rumours that women will be included in the seventh batch of conscriptions, which has raised concerns among locals.