Relatives are concerned about the fate of seven Maungdaw Township residents who were abducted by Myanmar’s military regime following clashes between its troops and the Arakan Army (AA) on Friday.

Regime soldiers abducted 10 locals after the fighting with the AA near Khamaung Seik and Min Khamaung villages on Friday. Three of the detainees managed to escape when the junta troops were subsequently ambushed, but the fate of the seven others is still unknown.

“Myanmar military soldiers arrived at our village around 5 p.m. yesterday. They summoned the village administrator and community elders, and said they needed around 10 people to show the way,” a Min Khamaung villager told DMG.

“They took seven from our village and three from Khamaung Seik who were taking shelter in our village,” he added.

Those who managed to escape have fled to other places for fear that junta soldiers might come again for them.

“We are concerned about the fate of the other villagers,” said a resident.

Four people, aged between 40 and 56, from Min Khamaung village and three villagers — 30, 32 and 50, respectively — from  Khamaung Seik village remain in regime custody.

DMG was unable to contact junta spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun for comment.

Several Min Khamaung villagers are staying at the village monastery for fear that junta troops might return to their village. They are unable to flee their village as the regime has blocked off the access road.

Hundreds of villagers from Khamaung Seik fled to nearby villages following the fighting on Friday.