Juveniles a growing share of perpetrators as crimes rise in AA-held territories

By Admin 11 Sep 2025

DMG Newsroom

11 September 2025, Kyauktaw

Crimes such as theft, robbery, assault, and murder are on the rise in areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA), and juvenile offenders are increasingly being identified.

A 14-year-old student died after an argument between two students in Ywamapyin Village, Kyauktaw Township, on September 7.

The surviving student has been arrested by the Arakan Army's Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS), but it is not known what criminal charges will be filed.

As incidents of young students fighting - with sometimes fatal consequences - have increased, concerns are rising among teachers and parents.

"When a fight between students turns into a murder, teachers and parents are all worried. We have to make sure that our children don't fight when they go to school. Teachers and parents need to be more careful and monitor their children carefully to completely eliminate such incidents," said the mother of a student in Kyauktaw Township.

A 20-year-old youth stabbed a 12th grade student from the same village to death with a pair of scissors in Kankyaung Village, Pauktaw Township, on August 16. The perpetrator has been arrested and prosecuted by DLEPS.

A 36-year-old man stabbed Daw Win Nu Yin, 60, to death in Pyaingchaung Village, Kyauktaw Township on July 24, and took her gold and silver items.

"I think the main reason for the increase in crimes is the weak rule of law. The AA has not clearly defined the law in the prosecution of these cases. There are cases where the accused are acquitted and there are cases where the verdict is uncertain, so the locals are worried about their safety," said a local man in Ponnagyun.

As crimes are increasing in areas controlled by the Arakan Army, and the AA's handling of these issues has been weak, questions have been raised about the rule of law and the AA-implemented judiciary.

"There is a situation where these minors cannot be prosecuted under the law. If they are not punished because they are underage, it could be dangerous for society. Therefore, the perpetrators should be sent to a youth detention camp or something," said a local man in Arakan State.

The Arakan Army, which has seized control of 14 of 17 townships in Arakan State, is operating administrative machinery in those areas and accelerating reconstruction efforts.

The public is nonetheless calling on the Arakan Army to handle the rule of law and its judiciary in a transparent and effective manner, as crimes that have alarmed the public are on the rise.