Nearly 20 young people have been arrested by Myanmar’s military junta in a series of coordinated raids across three townships in Yangon Region, with search operations still ongoing, according to the Rangoon Scout Network (RSN) and local sources.
The arrests took place between 16 and 19 May in Kungyangon, Kawhmu, and Twantay townships. Local resistance forces and residents believe the crackdown was based on leaked intelligence.
“These weren’t random arrests. It looks like they were acting on specific information. Troops carried out multiple raids at all hours, morning, afternoon, and night. They’re searching houses, forested areas, and roads, and have even set up military camps in some villages,” said a representative from the RSN.
The RSN has withheld the names of those detained due to ongoing security concerns.
The mass arrest operation appears to have been triggered by an earlier raid on 15 May, when military forces stormed six huts between the villages of Ingalone and Htan Pin Chaung located between Kungyangon and Kawhmu and detained two members of an underground resistance group.
“A young woman reportedly opened fire when soldiers tried to apprehend her group. She and her partner were captured, but others fled. Some were caught later during forest searches. The junta also found ID cards in the huts and is now using them to track township officials,” said a local source.
Reports circulating on social media suggest that the junta has designated Kungyangon, Kawhmu, and Twantay as “black zones.” An estimated 2,000 troops are believed to be involved in the operation, though some resistance members say the actual number may be slightly lower.
“The two-battalion estimate might be high, but there’s no doubt they’ve deployed a large number of forces,” said an RSN member.
Currently, military units are conducting door-to-door searches in villages across the three townships and have established multiple checkpoints along main roads, tightening security in the area, according to local residents.
RSN data also indicates that at least 687 youths were arrested by junta forces throughout Yangon Region in April alone, reflecting a sharp escalation in targeted detentions.
