Military council troops stationed at Seikkhun village in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region, have detained two motorcycle riders and confiscated 30 million kyat along with their motorcycle, according to reports from local people’s defense sources. The incident occurred on June 23rd when the military checkpoint personnel arrested two civilian travelers from Shwebo Township and Kangyi Taw village in Wetlet Township who were traveling by motorcycle. The military used the pretext that two people were riding on a single motorcycle to make the arrest when the civilians were passing through the checkpoint on the Shwebo-Seikkhun-Monywa road.
The two detained civilians were tied up with their hands behind their backs, forced to kneel, and left exposed in the sun for an entire day in front of the checkpoint. Around 5 PM, the military troops finally released them after confiscating 30 million kyat, two mobile phones, and their motorcycle. The military checkpoint at Seikkhun village is located along the Shwebo-Seikkhun-Myokaungji-Monywa road, where thousands of vehicles pass through daily. The military council soldiers regularly collect illegal payments from passing vehicles, and this checkpoint is known to be a revenue-generating point for the military forces in the area.
Local sources advise travelers planning to go from the Shwebo-Seikkhun-Myokaungji route towards Depayin-Ayartaw-Monywa to avoid the military checkpoint at Seikkhun village. There have been frequent warnings issued as the military council troops are known to regularly engage in arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and forceful confiscation of money and property from innocent civilians. This incident represents just one example of the military council’s ongoing violations against civilians, and local residents point out that such actions contribute to the deteriorating security situation in the region. The military checkpoint’s presence and activities have become a significant concern for local communities and travelers in the area, highlighting the continuing challenges faced by civilians under military council control.
