It is known that the four locals who were arrested by the SAC column in Pule Township, Sagaing Division on April 6th were released on the morning of April 7th.
It was investigated that the four arrested local residents who were freed were a 55-year-old (father), 32-year-old (son), and 17-year-old (son) from Chaung Nar village and a 14-year-old child from Hnawyoe village.
“I think these guys have been in Hnawyoe Creek since the early hours of the morning. When we reach Taw Tight, we see them (soldiers). So, I made my two sons run, but they didn’t escape,” a 55-year-old man who was freed after being arrested, said the MPA.
A 14-year-old boy who was tending cows from Hnawyoe village was arrested, while he was hiding in a haystack because he saw the SAC’s column marching.
“Our family lives in Taw Tight. There is no news from anywhere that there is a column. I only knew when they entered. I also told my sons to run and they didn’t. Even if they did, they would not escape. They could have been shot. They (SAC troops) only took my two sons and did not me. But I didn’t accept it. I did not rest assured that they took them alone, so I went with them,” he continued.
It was learned that there were about 20 local people who were arrested by the SAC’s column, and the soldiers made each of these local people stay between them and took them as hostages to Kant Daunt village.
“Each person had to walk between them (soldiers). We mustn’t walk in a straight line. We have to walk in zigzags. They keep shouting at us to make space between each other. Soldiers are as always. They bully everyone all the time. They yelled at everyone,” shared the experience of a 55-year-old man who was freed.
It is said that there are about 100 soldiers in the column, and that about 100 soldiers are divided into three companies, and the arrested people are also said to be divided into three groups.
That morning, four comrades from the Myanmar Royal Dragon Army (MRDA) patrolling on motorcycles were shot at close range by the column and the arrested witnessed the incident to the MPA.
“First, a comrade with a motorcycle passed by. Behind that motorcycle, two motorcycles and four comrades came talking to each other. They (SAC soldiers) were talking about getting ready and getting ready
“The small arms are coming”. As soon as the comrades got close, the SAC soldiers started shooting them with big and small weapons,” he said.