Six locals killed by ARSA found near border

By Admin 01 Oct 2025

DMG Newsroom

1 October 2025, Maungdaw

Security personnel from the Arakan Army (AA) discovered the bodies of six locals on 28 September in a banana grove near Upper Inn Chaung Village, close to Border Post 56 along the Arakan-Bangladesh frontier. The victims had reportedly been abducted and executed by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

According to an AA statement released today, the bodies were already decomposed, leaving only skeletal remains. They were found dumped in four separate locations - some placed individually, others in pairs.

The victims were identified as villagers from Tamanthar and Done Nyo in Maungdaw Township who had gone missing in recent weeks.

"These border areas are becoming unlivable because of ARSA's threats. Even though AA troops are present, the dense forests and the ease with which ARSA can slip across from Bangladesh make full security coverage very difficult. People must live with constant caution," said one local source near the border.

In September, ARSA fighters infiltrated from Bangladeshi territory and attacked AA security posts, including Point 601 between Border Posts 56 and 57 and the Done Nyo Village outpost. Locals said ARSA also abducted, tortured, and killed non-Muslim villagers during those clashes, later dumping their bodies.

A resident of Tamanthar Village explained: "Our village is about 10 miles from Inn Chaung. People still go there for trade, but whenever ARSA movements intensify, locals get abducted and killed. That's why AA needs to give extra attention to border security."

Currently, around 10 villagers from Tamanthar, Inn Chaung, and nearby border communities remain missing, with complaints lodged to the ULA/AA administration.

Ground sources said ARSA fighters continue to retreat into Bangladeshi territory after carrying out raids, making clearance operations difficult for the AA. However, locals said AA units are patrolling the area and conducting security sweeps to protect civilians.

The AA has repeatedly warned that the activities of ARSA and the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) pose a direct threat not only to local lives and property, but also to stability in the border region. It has advised civilians to avoid traveling alone or in small groups through forests or remote areas. For urgent needs such as healthcare, villagers are urged to inform AA administrative or security personnel before traveling.

On 27 September, the AA further warned that if the Bangladeshi government fails to take action against BGB officers allegedly supporting ARSA and RSO, border security and bilateral relations could be undermined, potentially escalating tensions between the two sides.