According to reports, a Military Council column consisting of at least 50 police and soldiers entered Hmawpone village in Longkhin village-tract of Hpakant Township, Kachin State and arrested around 60 civilians at approximately 5 am today.

A local resident of Hpakant told Myitkyina News Journal that the detained civilians are currently being held captive at the Hmawpone monastery.

"The column surrounded the village at 5 o'clock in the morning. The primary target was Hmawpone," said the resident.

In addition, the residents of Hmawpone village, who were arrested by the Military Council, were forced to go out on the streets to shout, "We don't want the National Unity Government (NUG)," while being recorded on video and in photos, the residents said.

A resident from Sankhar village, located near Hmawpone village, suggested that the abducted individuals may have been taken as human shields and for the purpose of interrogation.

On March 18, over 30 residents of Hsenghpayar village, located in the Kat Hmaw Sut village-tract along the Myitkyina-Hpakant road, were reportedly abducted by the Military Council and used as human shields during the Military Council's convoy.

The Military Council's practice of abducting civilians as human shields has been on the rise, and this conduct should not happen, according to the resident of Sankhar village.

This morning, the sound of artillery shells was reportedly heard in Hpakant township.

On September 14, 2022, approximately 30 troops from the Military Council conducted a raid on Hmawpone village, during which they indiscriminately fired artillery shells into the village at least six times. The attack resulted in two artillery shells falling on the Hmawpone village monastery as well as the surrounding area of the village.

On the same day, they set fire to the Kaday Oo grocery store in the village and abducted a man along with the store owner.