Nine Muslims detained in Sittwe, interrogated by Junta forces

Narinjara News, 21 May 2026

At least nine Muslims, including one woman, have been detained and interrogated by the security forces in Sittwe, the capital city of Rakhine State, following a series of raids between 16 and 18 May.

Myanmar military personnel carried out the raids across multiple locations including Dar Paing and Ohn Taw Gyi IDP camps, over alleged ties to the Arakan Army (AA).

Daw Zata, the woman among detainees, was picked up by a combined security force comprising the army and police on 16 May from Dar Paing IDP camp after the authorities could not find her husband.

U Mbi Haris (46) was arrested on 17 May during a 10 am raid at his house in Hmaw Thinyar village by Man Si intersection police personnel.U Noka (35), U Hu Saung Amauk (42) and Ko Ma Mauk (27) were arrested on 18 May from Ohn Taw Gyi camp after a raid.

Four other individuals from Ohn Taw Gyi camp were also taken into custody and they are still unidentified.

According to a local Muslim source, the raid at May Ohn Taw Gyi camp on 18 May was a major one engaging over 20 police officers, including a colonel from the 36th police battalion.

The military and police have intensified their search for individuals suspecting links to the AA in several villages in the outskirts of Sittwe. Since the third week of May, security forces have arrested at least nine people within three days.

"Starting in mid-May, the authorities began arresting local residents from Muslim villages and camps for internally displaced persons under various pretexts," said the local source.

"Between 16 and 18 May, at least nine individuals were detained, primarily due to alleged connections with the AA," it added.

A Sittwe-based Muslim resident informed Narinjara News that the crackdown extended beyond the suspected AA ties. Authorities are also leveraging human trafficking charges to extort local communities while refusing to release detainees without fines.

"While some of the detainees were accused of transporting people, others were held on suspicion of supporting the AA,” stated the resident, adding that none of the detainees were released so far.

Reports indicate that these targeted raids are not limited to the Muslim population alone. Myanmar security forces in Sittwe are also detaining many Rakhine during the overnight guest-list inspections.