By Ra Wai / MPA
The Myanmar military junta has forcibly conscripted around 30 youths in Mahlaing, Mandalay Region, over three days, targeting individuals in public spaces.
According to the Mahlaing Town People’s News Network, the arrests took place from Friday to Sunday, with youths seized from streets and tea shops across the town.
A source from the Mahlaing Town People’s News Network told MPA, “Junta troops fired gunshots to intimidate pedestrians and market-goers before forcibly arresting them near the downtown traffic light around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. They also entered nearby tea shops and took several youths, though the exact number remains unknown. Around 30 people have been taken for military service in recent days.”
The source added that the town emptied quickly, with shops closing by 4:00 p.m. due to the arrests.
“By 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, the streets were deserted. Initially, people were still moving around, but after hearing gunfire and witnessing military raids in shops, everyone fled. Public activity had already declined by 6:00 p.m., a pattern that has persisted,” the source noted.
Some detainees have reportedly been released, but only those with connections to the military.
Additionally, in November 2024, over 80 youths from residential areas and factories in Mahlaing were arrested, with only those who could afford to pay for their release being freed.
