Burma Army soldiers (BA) have abducted civilians after setting up additional checkpoints in Loikaw.

According to an eyewitness, soldiers abducted five people, including a woman, at a checkpoint last week. Locals report that regime forces are checking people at checkpoints in the town every day.

“They mainly looking inspecting people’s mobile phones to read their messenger app. If they find photos of guns on our Facebook or of a friend carrying a gun, they will ask questions about it,” a source told Kantarawaddy Times, asking to remain anonymous.

Some people displaced by the fighting earlier this year have returned to the Karenni State capital and armed forces are scrutinising their IDs and sometimes check their family registry to see if anyone is missing.

On 14 April, many residents in Chi Kel ward in Loikaw were trapped by fighting between Karenni resistance groups and the regime, and BA shelling destroyed a house.