One of the three unarmed soldiers, who fled from an army column stationed at Mahamuni temple in Kyauktaw township of Rakhine State, reportedly takes shelter in the Arakan Army (AA) controlled area.

The soldier is identified as 30-year-old corporal Kang Kaung (private no 437/215) and he hails from the 55th division based in Kalaw of Shan State.

He fled with two other soldiers on 22 May and entered a nearby AA base after some time, said an eyewitness.

Speaking to Narinjara News, the eyewitnesses added that three soldiers fled the army column from the Mahamuni complex.  Among them corporal Kang Kaung  is in the AA controlled area, but no information is available about the two other soldiers.

"When I asked him why he was running  away, he said he did not want to stay in the army,” said the eyewitness, adding that he also asked the reason behind and the soldier responded that ‘it is not normal in the army’.

Corporal Kang Kaung was born  in Kone Gyi village under  Hinthada township of  Ayeyarwady region. He was on duty in Rakhine State for more than three months in Mahamuni pagoda.

According to a trusted source, he has been interrogated at an AA base and he may be detained for some days.

Locals have no information about the other two soldiers who too fled with Kang Kaung.