The Muslim men did not flee to avoid conscription for fear that their family members would be tortured by the regime, said a young Muslim man from Thaechaung Village.

Thousands of houses have been destroyed by junta troops and forcibly conscripted Muslims in arson attacks and by bulldozing in Arakan State’s Buthidaung town, according to residents.

At least 1,000 local people were reportedly displaced by fighting between the military and Arakkha Army (AA) in Thandwe Township, Arakan State.

“Children know nothing. When they get something new, they will just play with it. Adults also have little knowledge about how to take care of those things. The result is loss of lives,” said a Muslim woman

Junta airstrikes killed 23 civilians across Myanmar during the period from April 1 to 19, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said in a statement on Friday.

Junta soldiers reportedly abducted a member of the local administrative body and a resident from their home in Gonechein Village in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, on the night of April 19.

A junta artillery strike killed two civilians and injured one other in Arakan State’s Ann and Myebon townships on Saturday, according to local people.

An elderly man from Hnanphetaung Village, part of Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township, was seriously injured after stepping on a landmine on Saturday morning.

The regime has blockaded the Ann-Sittwe, Ann-Tettaung, Ann-Maei, and Ann-Minbu road sections in Ann Township.

Muslim communities have accused the military regime of creating racial tensions between the Arakanese and Muslim communities in Arakan State as it is losing ground in the western Myanmar state.

India sells weapons, aviation fuel and plane parts to the regime and also provides military training and technology, said Justice for Myanmar.

“Clashes seem to be intensifying in the mornings and evenings. The junta carries out bombing raids in the mornings and evenings,” said a local resident in Maungdaw.

One IDP said that Muslims from two displacement camps and Darpaing and Basar villages have been suffering from diarrhoea since early April.

“The regime’s actions are very despicable. The use of civilians and women by the regime under the pretext of fighting is an inhumane act,” said one Arakanese woman.

Myanmar’s military regime dropped bombs near Kyauksepyin Village, part of Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township, at least three times at about 6 a.m. on Friday, said local residents.

The military regime has ordered nearly 400 households in Ngatpyawtaw and Anaukpar wards in Thitpone Village in Arakan State’s Manaung Township to relocate by April 25.

The regime has suffered more than 100 casualties and military trucks including armoured vehicles were damaged in the ambushes, said the KNU. 

A total of 247 prisoners in Arakan State were released on April 17 and Daw Nyo Aye, chairwoman of the Rakhine Women’s Network (RWN), was among 3,339 prisoners pardoned by the junta.

Maung Thein Soe, 18, was walking to a farm near an abandoned military camp where junta troops were once stationed on April 17 when he stepped on the landmine.