The Military Council troops abducted a group of 8 individuals, consisting of the owner and staff of a restaurant located in the Mhaw One neighborhood of Hpakant Township in Kachin State, as well as several customers on March 7th, around 11:00 PM, according to local sources.

A Hpakant resident told KNG that a group of about 10 Military Council troops apprehended a total of 8 individuals, including the owner of New Aspect Cafe in the Mhaw One neighborhood, his four employees, and three young individuals who were utilizing the cafe's wifi services at the time of the incident.

"Eight people including the cafe owner, staff members, and young men who were accessing the shop's wifi, were forcibly apprehended and detained by the Military Council. As of now, the reason for their arrest remains unknown”, he said.

Of those who were arrested, only the cafe owner, U Soe Naing, has been identified, while the identities of the other seven individuals remain unknown. All of them are currently detained at Hpakant Myoma Police Station.

Following the coup, internet services in Hpakant have been strictly restricted, necessitating individuals to pay between 1000 to 5000 kyats per hour at wifi-enabled shops to access the internet.

"Today, the shop remains closed, and those who were arrested have yet to be released. Additionally, checks on pedestrians are being conducted near the Uyu Bridge in front of the police station," another local said.

In early March, Military Council troops arrested nearly 200 individuals from Sharaw Hka village in Hpakant.