DLEPS fails to apprehend Pauktaw child rape suspect after nearly two months

By Admin 06 May 2026

DMG Newsroom

6 May 2026, Pauktaw

Local residents report that the Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS) under the United League of Arakan has yet to apprehend a suspect in a child rape case that occurred nearly two months ago in Pauktaw Township, Arakan State, an area under the control of the Arakan Army.

The suspect is identified as U Tun Aung Chay, 45, from Thit Pote Chaung Village in Pauktaw Township. Although he was initially captured the day after the crime, he escaped due to the negligence of DLEPS and remains at large.

“The child was raped around 4:30 p.m. on March 3. At that time, villagers heard the child’s cries and saw the man, who then fled. He was missing for the entire day. On March 4, he was caught on a motorboat belonging to Maung Than Myint from Alel Village in Pauktaw Township because he looked suspicious. He was only detained after the victim was brought in and confirmed his identity. Even though he was caught, the perpetrator escaped due to the negligence of DLEPS,” said a person close to the victim’s family.

The incident occurred on the evening of March 3, after 4:00 p.m., when an 8-year-old girl from Phaduchay Village, Alel Phayonekar Island in Pauktaw Township, was sexually assaulted by U Tun Aung Chay.

According to the details of the event, the young victim had accompanied her aunt to the outskirts of the village earlier that evening but returned alone without her aunt's knowledge. On the path between Phayarchaung and Phaduchay Villages, she encountered U Tun Aung Chay, who then raped her. Villagers discovered the crime in progress, causing the suspect to flee.

Local residents stated that the perpetrator had been working as a hired hand on a fishing boat in Phayarchaung Village, Pauktaw Township.

A case has been filed at the Minbya District Court regarding this incident, though the specific sections under which the charges were brought remain unknown.

Family members of the victim are demanding the immediate arrest of the perpetrator and effective action to ensure justice is served.

“As family members, we want the perpetrator caught as soon as possible. Because he escaped due to negligence after being caught once, we want the responsible officials to be punished as well. At one point, there was a report that the suspect was seen in Ngamelpyin Village, but when they went to search and he fled into the forest, they didn't follow him. They need to search for him as a priority. Right now, it just looks like they are looking for him casually only if they happen to run into him,” a family member of the victim said.

Cases of child rape are increasing in areas controlled by the Arakan Army in Arakan State, with at least six cases reported between January and the current month of this year.

Child rape cases are gradually rising, making the safety of women more concerning than before. On the other hand, women’s rights activists argue that weaknesses in taking action against perpetrators pose a direct threat to the security of women.

“Those who commit child rape should be given severe punishments. Furthermore, not just the authorities, but the entire public should be informed that this person has been punished under this specific section. Only then will potential offenders not dare to do it again. Providing training and awareness alone is not enough. I want the authorities to punish perpetrators publicly,” said a woman from the Kanhtaunggyi Youths Association.

DLEPS has announced that under Section 376 (3) of the Penal Code, anyone who commits rape against a female under the age of 12 shall be punished with either life imprisonment or 20 years in prison, as well as being liable to both punishments.

However, women's rights activists criticize the current situation, pointing out that the handling of rape cases remains weak and that legal proceedings lack effectiveness.