Four-year-old girl raped in Mrauk-U

By Admin 24 Apr 2026

DMG Newsroom

24 April 2026, Mrauk-U

A four-year-old girl from Paukpinkwin Village in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township was reportedly raped by a 60-year-old man.

On April 22, the suspect, identified as U Thinkhar Kyaw, 60, lured the young girl while she was walking in the village and raped her at his home.

The victim is currently receiving medical treatment, while the Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS) under the United League of Arakan has detained the suspect for investigation.

"I want these cases to be handled openly and not ignored. People should not hide these incidents out of fear of family shame or stay uninvolved because it does not affect them. Everyone must work together to resolve this, or such crimes will keep happening. It is the perpetrator who should be ashamed, not the victim. They must face the punishment they deserve," said a local woman in Mrauk-U.

Cases of statutory rape are on the rise in areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA). On March 16, a 13-year-old boy raped a three-year-old girl in Aung Thukha Village, Maungdaw Township, and attempted to hide the body.

In that case, the victim’s family expressed deep dissatisfaction after the perpetrator’s mother, who was allegedly an accomplice, was released.

Locals have called on authorities to take effective action against perpetrators, stating that such crimes are unacceptable to the entire community.

"Although the Arakan Army has issued laws regarding statutory rape, the number of perpetrators is increasing. I want the Arakan Army’s judiciary to be even more stringent. Furthermore, I would like to see short-term sexual awareness training conducted in local communities," said a local woman in Kyauktaw.

The Arakan Army’s Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS) has previously announced that under Section 376 (3) of the Penal Code, anyone who rapes a girl under the age of 12 in Arakan State will be sentenced to either life imprisonment or 20 years in prison, along with fines.

Residents pointed out that while statutory rape incidents are increasing in areas controlled by the Arakan Army, legal action and enforcement remain significantly weak.