Matupi Township Chin State is facing a shortage of rice as the military council has banned rice transportation.

Rice traders in Matupi Township usually carry rice from Gantgaw Township via Hakha-Matupi Road but the army has now blocked Mindat-Matupi Road. One week ago, Light Infantry Division-140 based in Matupi Township has banned the transport of rice into Matupi downtown, said a local from Matupi Township.

The army said the rice is enough in Matupi downtown, as there is an inflow of 2,000 bags of rice in the summer.

The army thinks that the additional of inflow of rice is aimed for the Civil Defense Force (CDF).

The military council’s ban on the purchase of rice in Matupi downtown is assumed that it is concerned about the arrival of ration to the Civil Defense Force (Mindat).

The military council thinks that having more than 10 bags of rice is aimed for the collection for the

CDF said a local from Matupi. The military council is conducting checks on the lists of overnight guests in Matupi downtown every day.

The army unit is located beyond Phanaing-Ngalaing village on Hakha-Matupi Road. A total of 150 bags of rice are stranded in Phanaing-Ngalaing village as the army has blocked it.

“There is no rice at the rice shops in the downtown area. The shortage has been caused because some people purchased rice for storage, while some people from sub-urban areas have purchased the rice.

Religious associations in Matupi Township are preparing to coordinate with the military council about allowing the transport of rice due to the rice shortage.