Teenage girl from Ramree beaten, robbed and raped in Taungup

By Admin 17 Aug 2026

DMG Newsroom

17 August 2026, Ramree

A 17-year-old girl from Ramree Town, Arakan State, was beaten, robbed and raped in Taungup Township, with the alleged perpetrator currently in the custody of the Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS).

The victim was staying at a guesthouse in Maei Town, Taungup Township, on August 4 while traveling to Yangon. On August 5, an acquaintance identified as 21-year-old Nay Kyaw Lin offered to connect her with a travel broker and picked her up on his motorcycle.

According to family members, he lured her near Kanchay Village, robbed her of K1.5 million in travel funds and raped her. He then struck her face and head with a motorcycle helmet and rocks, choked her and abandoned her at the scene.

"She left home to join her mother in Yangon, and that guy had been persuading her for a while, claiming he would find a broker for her. The next day, he took her under the pretense of meeting a broker, took her money, beat her, committed the act and left her behind. When she regained consciousness, she sought help from displaced people nearby, who then took her to the hospital," the victim's uncle, U Zaw Min Htwe, said.

The victim is receiving medical treatment for severe head and facial injuries sustained in the attack.

The suspect, Nay Kyaw Lin, originally from Anjanapura Township, is a displaced person residing in Inntaung Ward, Ramree Town, and was acquainted with the victim, according to her uncle.

DLEPS arrested the suspect on August 7 following the incident. The victim's family has filed a lawsuit, though the exact legal charges remain unknown.

The victim's family called on the judicial department to deliver swift justice, saying the suspect confessed during initial DLEPS questioning.

Rape cases have increasingly been reported across areas controlled by the Arakan Army in Arakan State, raising concerns over women's safety.

Women's rights activists are urging the United League of Arakan (ULA) judicial department to take decisive action against rape cases.

"There are misunderstandings between the public and the administration regarding the justice system's handling of rape cases. Simply handing down the maximum penalty or death sentence to perpetrators will not eradicate rape. The administration needs to enhance public safety measures as much as possible while also working to eliminate the culture and mindsets that perpetuate sexual violence in our region," an Arakanese male gender activist said.

At least 17 cases of sexual violence, including rape and murder, were documented across Arakan State and Paletwa Township in Chin State between January 2024 and August 2026.

The maximum penalty for rape is enforced in areas controlled by the Arakan Army. In a past case involving the rape and murder of a woman in Ponnagyun Township, the primary perpetrator was sentenced to death by hanging, while two accomplices each received 20-year prison terms.

DLEPS stated that no perpetrator of murder, rape or child rape within areas controlled by the Arakan Army will escape punishment.