Myanmar Military Council troops have destroyed houses in front of Obo Prison and near Obo railway station.

A local citizen, one of the owners of the wrecked houses, told Mizzima that on 21 October, starting around 8:00 am, a militia affiliated with the Military Council destroyed homes in the wards in front of Obo jail and the ward next to Obo railway station in the Aungmyaythazan Township of Mandalay.

"The junta's military and police arrived early in the morning with a bulldozer and gave orders to evacuate the homes within an hour. Following that, they began to demolish the homes," the resident from the neighborhood in front of Obo jail said.

A local said: “Notices were delivered to the locals ordering the demolition of the homes close to Obo Station on September 13 and the homes in front of Obo Prison on October 20 respectively.”

There are reportedly more than 100 homes that will be destroyed in the two wards that are currently being torn down. These wards and buildings were built before Obo Prison was constructed. The roads leading to Obo Prison are currently closed off to traffic, and the Military Council forces are providing tight security