On April 12th, Daw Ngai Hau Niang, who serves as the State-level head of the Department of Archeology and National Museum under the Military Council in Hakha Township, Chin State, was abducted by an unidentified group.

On the morning of April 12th, an unknown group of armed men arrived at the residence of Daw Ngai Hau Niang and forcibly took her away, claiming that they needed to ask her something, a witness said.

“After video footage emerged of her attending the Chin National Day ceremony organized by the Military Council at the state government office, young people have already warned her to be careful. In the recent incident, some young men in mufti, believed to be the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), took her away from her home, stating that they had something to ask her. As of now, she has not been released”, he told the Khonumthung News.

The arrested Daw Ngai Hau Niang resides with her family in the staff housing located in the cultural office compound in Hakha Township. Despite the ongoing civil disobedience movement (CDM) following the coup, she chose not to participate and instead remained in her position at the office, continuing to work under the control of the Military Council.

Following her arrest, troops from the Military Council arrived at her residence and questioned her son about the incident before departing.

Currently, in Hakha, some department heads under the Military Council are in hiding and do not even dare to stay at their own residences, while others have resigned from their positions.

On April 10th, CDF-Hakha Council issued a warning to new government employees who joined after the February 1st, 2021, when the coup was staged, and to all employees who were transferred to Hakha from other areas, to vacate their public housing. Additionally, employees who were originally from other areas were instructed to leave Hakha before the end of May this year.

CDF-Hakha Council emphasized that failure to comply with these directives will result in necessary actions being taken.