ARSA accused of abducting two Muslim men in northern Maungdaw

By Admin 13 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
13 August 2023, Maungdaw

Members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) burned a vehicle on the road section between Laungdon and Kyeinchaung villages in Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, and abducted two Muslim men, according to local people.

The two abductees have been identified as Ko Maung Hla Win, 35, from Sabeikone Village and his younger brother Sabah, 23. The two brothers were taken by ARSA members while going to Kyeinchaung bazaar at about 5 p.m. on August 12, locals said.

“I think the two brothers were arrested by ARSA members. They have financial problems with each other,” said a local man from Sabeikone Village.

The two arrestees moved to Sabeikone Village from Maungdaw about two years ago with their families and are engaged in fish and shrimp farming, according to locals.

“They have problems with each other over money. The fact that ARSA is active near there has become a concern for the locals,” said U Maung Ohn, a former Arakan State lawmaker for Maungdaw Township.

The military has tightened security at the location where the two Muslim men were abducted and the torched vehicle was taken to a Border Guard Force regiment, said the locals.

“The military has tightened security at the scene and is reportedly looking for the two people who were detained. The military didn’t conduct checks on travellers,” said a local from Fawkeetaung Village.

When DMG contacted Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Kyaw Thura for comment on the matter, he responded that he was busy.