Myanmar army arrests 50 villagers in Sagaing region

Junta troops have arrested around 50 locals after raiding a village in Myanmar’s northern Sagaing region, locals told RFA.

They took shelter in a monastery in Myinmu township’s Let Ka Pin after a column of about 50 troops entered the village on Sunday and started shooting at residents.

“The troops entered the village firing guns and everyone they saw was arrested on the way,” said a local who declined to be named for fear of reprisals.

“The troops searched the monastery. People in the monastery were hiding out of fear but they were arrested. People who were not arrested fled. The troops are still stationed in the village and we have not been able to return so we don’t know whether those arrested are alive or dead.”

Nearly 10,000 residents of four villages in Myinmu township have fled their homes to escape shootings and arrests, locals told RFA.

Locals who fled the village have grounds to be concerned about the fate of fellow residents. On March 1, 17 residents of another Sagaing region village were arrested and killed on Myinmu township’s Nyaung Yin island.

RFA phoned the junta spokesperson for Sagaing region, Aye Hlaing, to ask about the arrests but the calls went unanswered.

The junta is currently holding more than 16,300 civilians in prisons and police cells across Myanmar, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.