It is reported that at least 40 people were arrested as the Military Council troops drove out villagers who had fled to Shwegu town due to the military tension in the eastern part of Shwegu town in Kachin State.

A woman from Shwegu reported to KNG that villagers from several villages, including Yaele, Simulay, Simugyi, Hngettadar, and Sithaung, have taken refuge in monasteries in Shwegu town as fighting between the Military Council troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the People's Defense Force (PDF) continues in the area. However, Military Council soldiers and police have since arrived in passenger cars and ordered the displaced villagers to return to their homes.

"Yesterday evening, they were driving them out. They told all the people who were fleeing the war in the monasteries to return to their homes. There were a total of 20 policemen and soldiers who came in passenger cars. That's why some of the people who were sheltering there went home, but some did not," she said.

Several internally displaced persons (IDPs) were forced to leave from four monasteries, including Yaewun Monastery and Zayli Monastery, located in Shwegu township. The IDPs left these monasteries earlier today, and it has been reported that families who can afford to return to their hometowns are relocating to the city.

Following the forced evacuation of IDPs by soldiers and police, at least 40 people were reportedly abducted. According to a woman familiar with the situation, those who were arrested have not been released and their whereabouts remain unknown.

"Both women and men were arrested. Those who were arrested were young and middle-aged. To this day, they have not been released. And I do not know where they were arrested. No one knows whether they were in the military camp or in the police station," she said.

Out of the 40 people who were reportedly abducted from the monastery compound, 20 were from Sithaung village, 3 from Hngettadar village, 3 from Simulay village, and the remaining 20 were from Yaele and Simugyi villages combined, bringing the total number of abductees to more than 40.

Starting from March 23, approximately 200 soldiers from the joint forces of the 77th Division and the 10th Division have carried out combat operations in several villages located in the eastern part of Shwegu Township, including Manwein, Hngettadar, Winwa, Sithaung, and Simulay. As a result, the villagers were forced to flee and sought refuge in Shwegu Township.

Local residents are speculating that the military's crackdown has intensified following reported casualties suffered by the Military Council's side during the fighting that occurred in Shwegu Township.

There were a total of four clashes that occurred in the area, including one near Hngettadar village on March 23, another near Naungletgyi on March 24, a third near Simulay village on March 26, and the most recent one between Simulay and Simugyi villages on March 30.