Win Nyunt — The Tatmadaw arrested five men from Sar Pyin village in Arakan State’s Taungup Township on April 5, village administrator U Win Myint told DMG.

The local official identified the arrested men as U Than Naing, a farmer; U Hla Phyu, the owner of a tea shop; U Aung Htoo, who has a radio repair business; U Myint Aung, the owner of a grocery store; and U Pyone Cho, who runs a photography business.

“Police and soldiers entered the village at about 11 a.m. yesterday. Then, they took these locals and investigated,” U Win Myint said.

“No one was allowed to go to the place where the investigation was made,” he added.

“After 3 p.m., they said they wanted to take these locals as the Tactical Operations Command wanted to meet them. When I asked, ‘Are they arrested?’, they said they were not arrested, and would be released after they met with the officer. I don’t know why these locals have been arrested.”

The Tatmadaw has accused the five of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA) ethnic armed group and said it handed the men over to the local police station pending further investigation.

Arrests of alleged AA affiliates were also made last week in Paletwa Township, Chin State, and Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township.