BGF and ARSA forces clash in Maungdaw Twsp

By DMG 12 May 2021

DMG Newsroom
12 May 2021, Maungdaw 

A Border Guard Force (BGF) unit on patrol and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) exchanged fire at the Kha Maung Seik border area between mile marker Nos. 51 and 52 of the Maungdaw Township border fence in northern Arakan State on Wednesday morning. 

“There is no village in that area except groups of people who are building a border fence,” said U Aung Ye, the Maungdaw Township administrator. “Both exchanged fire at about 7:30 a.m. while the Border Guard Force was patrolling. The clashes took place for about five or 10 minutes. We don’t know about the casualties and don’t hear gunfire now.” 

A police officer who asked for anonymity said during the hostilities, an ARSA militant was killed and a BGF member was injured.  

“The injured person was sent to Na Ba Ha (2) Kha Maung Seik clinic and sent to Buthidaung at about 11 p.m.” on Wednesday, he said. 

When DMG contacted U Naing Aye, the Maungdaw District deputy administrator, and U Aung Myint Thein, a member of the District Administration Committee, regarding Wednesday’s skirmish, they said they had not heard anything about it. 

On March 5, ARSA militants reportedly attacked a military vehicle near Wai Lar Taung village in Maungdaw Township, killing an officer from a Tatmadaw engineering battalion and two civilian labourers.