Junta soldiers at a security checkpoint near the University of Taungup in Taungup, Arakan State, are reportedly extorting money from passersby.

Most of the detainees were arrested for postings on Facebook, while there were also arrests for messages or videos posted on Tiktok, Telegram and Viber. 

Young women from rural and remote parts of Arakan State, where fighting between Myanmar’s military regime and the Arakkha Army (AA) is ongoing, say a lack of job opportunities has left them doing “chores” and other odd-jobs to eke out a living.

Four people including a child died in Kyauktaw Township's Pyaingtaing Village due to financial difficulties, lack of medicine and proper healthcare assistance, according to other villagers.

Hundreds of junta soldiers and police last week arrived in Shwepyitha Ward on the outskirts of Sittwe and at Kyaytaw Village and forcibly evicted residents from the areas.

From the military coup on February 1, 2021, to September 13, 2024, at least 5,654 were killed by the regime, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

Locals in Arakan State face food shortages amid livelihood hardships, rising commodity prices, scarcity of jobs and junta blockades.

Pu B Shyam, joint secretary for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, was quoted by Khonumthung Media Group as saying so during a meeting with the Mizoram state government minister of power and electricity Pu F. Rodingliana on September 12.

The Myanmar junta, which continues to lose bases and towns to the AA, is currently carrying out airstrikes on AA-controlled areas and public gatherings in Arakan State, and civilian casualties are mounting.

The AA said it will take action against corrupt officers and administrative staff who are misusing their powers and public resources.

Junta soldiers arrested dozens of local residents from Oh Tan, Mizan and Shwepyar wards in Sittwe at around 2 p.m. on September 13 on the pretext of having conducted overnight guest checks.

Many of the victims have been women and children. Regime airstrikes and artillery attacks killed 73 children and injured 186. Meanwhile, 127 women were killed and 315 women were wounded in those attacks.

Gwa Township residents are facing the shortages as the regime has banned the transportation of food and commodities from Ayeyarwady Region into the area.

Although some of those people were released after negotiating with the relevant authorities, there are also many who have been charged under Malaysian immigration law.

Junta officials and village in-charges collected extortion money ranging from K5,000 to K30,000 from Muslim IDP camps and villages in Sittwe Township, locals told DMG.

The junta set up two more security checkpoints in Bumay and Thelchaung villages and has tightened security checks on Muslims there.

In a video clip released on September 11, Khaing Aung Naing from the ALP’s Organizing Department said that ALP members are protecting people’s lives and arresting looters.

Regime airstrikes across five townships in northern Shan State and three townships in Arakan State reportedly killed some 90 prisoners of war (POWs) and wounded at least 30 others in recent days.

Gang theft, looting and robbery are on the rise in Taungup, Arakan State, which remains under the control of Myanmar's military regime, according to local residents.