Travel restrictions in Arakan State put in place by Myanmar’s military regime amid renewed fighting with the Arakan Army (AA) have nearly brought border trade with Bangladesh via Maungdaw to a complete halt, according to border traders.

The Arakan Front Party (AFP) on Friday called for the release of party advisor and former Arakan State lawmaker U Kyaw Lwin, who was detained by unknown men earlier this month.

Malaysian authorities raided the Kuala Lumpur office of the Arakan Refugee Relief Committee (ARRC), the main agency assisting Arakanese people in Malaysia, and arrested 20 people including office personnel.

The Myanmar military reportedly detained two brothers in Paletwa, Chin State, on October 13 and 14, according to family members.

Two people from Khaung Toke Palaung Village in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township were reportedly injured after a mine placed on a fence of the Myanmar military’s No. 9 Military Operations Command headquarters exploded on Thursday evening.

Two homes in Phar Wat Chaung Village, part of Arakan State’s Maungdaw Township, were reportedly set on fire Thursday evening, villagers told DMG, with the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) trading accusations over who was responsible for the alleged arson.

With the Myanmar military restricting access to some townships in Arakan State, some villages are facing medical shortages, according to local residents experiencing health challenges.

At least seven people have died by suicide in Sittwe over the past five months, according to the Shwe Yaung Metta Foundation, a charity based in the Arakan State capital.

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, a sacred pilgrimage site in Mon State’s Kyaikto Township that is also known as Golden Rock, remained closed on Thursday after civilians were killed in an attack the day prior on a junta security checkpoint at the base of the hill that hosts the pagoda.

Locals in Talai Taung Village in Arakan State’s Ann Township said dozens of residents including the village administrator have gone into hiding as junta soldiers are searching for them.

Myanmar’s military regime has seized nine boats moored near Min Chaung Bridge in Sittwe, and also detained nine people including some of the owners and helmsmen of those vessels.

Family members say they have not been allowed to meet an employee from the General Administration Department (GAD) and a construction company owner in Arakan State’s Thandwe Township who were recently arrested by the military.

The junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC), during a meeting with Arakan National Party (ANP) officials on Wednesday, warned the party to avoid making one-sided claims in issuing statements on the military situation and fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA).

A local man from Ayarshi Ward in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township was abducted by a group of people in civilian dress on the evening of October 11, according to family members of the man.

Myanmar’s military regime has filed a charge against the deputy head of the Minbya Township education office under Section 17(1) of Unlawful Associations Act for allegedly funding the Arakan Army (AA) with money that he is accused of deducting from the salaries of teachers.

Former State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to an additional three years in prison by a special court in the military-ruled nation on Wednesday, according to sources close to the court.

Fatalities were reported as Myanmar military soldiers and police raided a cockfight involving more than 100 people in the Arakan State capital Sittwe on October 7, subsequently filing charges against 18 detainees.

Myanmar’s military regime has transported four elephants including a so-called white elephant that was born in July from Arakan State’s Taungup to Yangon, according to witnesses.

The Arakan National Party (ANP) will meet with the junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) on Wednesday after it was summoned to Naypyidaw by the electoral body regarding a recent party statement condemning the regime’s fatal shellings of villages in Arakan State.