On March 29, in Maungdaw Township, four civilians were reportedly killed by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), according to local sources.
The incident occurred around 7:00 AM on March 29 when the victims were traveling from Myawaddy Village to Auk Gandaryu Village. ARSA militants allegedly abducted and executed them, leaving their bodies along the route near Mayu Mountain and Badaga Mountain Pass, villagers said.
According to villagers, the victims were identified as U Maung Ba, 41, from Obyo Village in Buthidaung Township; Maung Thar Aye Kyaw, 17, from Goppi Village; Ko Maung Gyi, 25, from Auk Gandaryu Village; and Ko Aung Naing Tun, 25, from Myawaddy Village in Maungdaw Township.
Their bodies were found on March 30 along the Badaga Mountain Pass near Mayu Mountain, bearing multiple gunshot wounds, villagers said.
On December 5 last year, armed militants claiming to be Rohingya insurgents attacked and set fire to Sin Swe Ya Village in Buthidaung Township. During the attack, a 16-year-old girl was killed, and five men were abducted, according to local sources.
Additionally, four Mro ethnic villagers from Kaing Gyi Village in Maungdaw Township went missing on September 30 last year while fishing near a stream close to their village. As of now, they have not been found, Mro villagers in Maungdaw Township said.
The Arakan-Bangladesh border is vast and covered with dense forests and mountains, making it a hiding place for militant groups and a base for carrying out attacks. Additionally, some of these armed insurgents are reportedly blending in with civilians in Muslim villages, according to local Muslim villagers.
Since the Arakan Army (AA) fully took control of Maungdaw District, militant groups claiming to be Rohingya insurgents have become more active, increasing violent incidents. As a result, local civilians say their safety and security have further deteriorated.
