Local residents report that the military forces have arrested 15 young people at the Jade Mountain Bridge in Mashikhaung Ward, Hpakant City, Kachin State. The arrests occurred during the evening of August 29, when military council troops suddenly arrived in vehicles and took the youths into custody. The current whereabouts of those arrested and the reasons for their detention remain unclear, with no information provided about their destination or the charges against them.
According to local sources, the military has established a strong presence throughout Hpakant city, setting up checkpoints with swing gates on the road leading from the dump site area. Similar security checkpoints have been established at the Pan Tin Bridge, where additional arrests have been reported during inspections. The military council is reportedly planning to use five wards in Hpakant city as bases for election preparations, while continuing their campaign of arrests and killings of local civilians, according to revolutionary organizations in the area.
Since late May, when the military began their operations in the Hpakant region, more than 70 civilians have been killed during their campaign, according to local residents. The current situation in Hpakant township has become increasingly tense, with heightened military inspections and arrests, prompting revolutionary organizations to warn local residents to exercise extreme caution in their daily movements. The military council’s actions have severely disrupted civilian life in the region and created a deteriorating security situation that continues to impact local communities.
