In January 2025, Myanmar’s military junta arrested 237 people in Mandalay, including six women, according to an official from the Mandalay Strike Group. The detainees, primarily in their 20s and 30s, were taken from various townships, with Maha Aungmye reporting the highest number of arrests at 46.
“The junta threatened those who fled and disobeyed orders at gunpoint. They conducted nighttime raids under the pretext of overnight guest checks, beating and arresting people,” a Mandalay Strike Group official said.
Other townships also saw significant arrests: 32 in Aungmyaythazan, 27 in Chanayethazan, 30 in Chanmyathazi, 35 in Pyigyitagon, 34 in Patheingyi, and 33 in Amarapura.
Since early 2025, the junta has ramped up arrests in Mandalay, deploying traffic police, soldiers, and police at checkpoints across the city. These security forces inspect vehicle licenses, mobile phones, and VPN usage, arresting individuals on the spot without questioning.
The heightened crackdown has left Mandalay’s streets largely deserted after 6 pm.
“In the evenings, the streets are empty. Previously, neighbours would sit outside, but now most residents stay indoors,” a Mandalay resident said.
Three Mandalay residents interviewed by Mizzima confirmed that the junta-aligned Pyu Saw Htee militia has been forcibly detaining individuals walking at night.
“Pyu Saw Htee militias are targeting young people returning from work, forcing them into vehicles. Those who can pay are extorted, while those who cannot are handed over to neighbourhoods in need of military recruits,” said a regional source.
Beyond arrests under the military service law, Mandalay residents are also alarmed by reports of child disappearances and rising gang-related crimes, including theft and robbery.
“We apologize for the repeated warnings to be careful and take precautions, but all these crises stem from the military dictatorship. We thank the people for their courage and their ongoing efforts, and we urge them to continue taking precautions and avoid falling victim to the military regime’s exploitation,” said an official from the Mandalay Strike Group.
The junta began enforcing the People’s Military Service Rules on 23 January 2024, which mandates compulsory service for young men, women, and transgender individuals.
In response, the Mandalay Strike Group has urged the National Unity Government (NUG), the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), ethnic revolutionary groups, interim regional administrations, and the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Representative Committee to raise international awareness and pursue negotiations to address human rights violations under the junta’s conscription law.
Meanwhile, People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) continue to control significant areas in Madaya, Singu, Mogok, Taungtha, and Myingyan townships in Mandalay Region, where intense fighting persists as the military junta attempts to reclaim these territories.
