Upon the forceful entry of the Military Council troops into two Kachin villages within Indaw Township, a number of individuals who were unable to escape in time, along with certain pro-Junta villagers, found themselves trapped. The trapped villagers were forcefully directed to sleep in the monasteries during the nighttime. However villagers who arrived at the monastery after the designated time were subjected to severe beatings, and torture inflicted by the soldiers, locals reported.
A local from Inpin ward in Nantthar told KNG, "Those who failed to arrive at the monasteries prior to the scheduled time, were subjected to physical assaults and verbal abuse. Villagers are forcibly prohibited from returning home to sleep after 6:00 pm and are ordered to spend the night in the monasteries, as the soldiers have imposed as 6am- 6pm curfew These extremely stringent measures have created an environment of severe repression.”
"In Mawteik village we heard similar circumstances. Those who arrive late are subjected to various forms of punishment, ranging from physical beatings to being placed under house arrest for multiple days," according to a Mawteik villager who has escaped.
The Military Council troops have issued a severe warning to the trapped villagers, stating that failure to comply with their strict rules will result in the burning of their homes, and physical harm to any family members remaining behind. Consequently, the villagers are left with no choice but to return to their respective villages, before the designated evening deadline.
Nantthar village, with a population of nearly 2000, currently has over 200 individuals trapped within its confines. Similarly, in Mawteik village, which boasts a population of over 1500, around 400 people find themselves in a state of entrapment.
Residents from Aungkone, Inpin, Tonttaw, and Yawthar wards within these two villages are currently seeking refuge in forested areas, fleeing from their homes in search of safety.
The soldiers deployed in the two villages are from the Military Council's 77th Division, locals said. On March 20th, over 100 troops conducted a raid in Nantthar village, and towards the end of May, approximately 80 troops entered Mawteik village and established their presence there.
Photo Caption - A section of the main road connecting Indaw Township to Nantthar village.
