Mrauk-U town has been completely captured by the Arakan Army (AA) after fighting with an offensive attack on the Police Battalion-31 based in Mrauk-U town on February 8, according to the three brotherhoods alliances.
“The Police Battalion-31 arrested grassroots of people who do manual labor without a reason, so the residents didn’t dare to go outside at night. Now this police battalion had fallen into the hands of the AA, so the local people have been freed from their troubles,” a local resident of Sincha Seik village said.
The Light Infantry Battalion 540, 377 and 378, and the Police Battalion 31 are based in the town of Mrauk-U. These battalions’ troops arrested locals as human shields, killed a lot of people and destroyed the buildings, pagodas and temples of ancient heritages with airstrikes and heavy weapons during the fighting in Rakhine State, according to local residents.
“The capture of the towns, battalions and camps like this are good for the People in Rakhine. I believe the Arakan Army is seizing the junta battalions so that it is good and convenient for the people of Rakhine. Now the AA army has even seized and controlled three towns of Rakhine, so our people’s trust has increased more on the AA army. I believe soon we will have the opportunity to create self-determination for our people,” said a resident of Mrauk-U.
The Arakan Army has released the announcement on February 2 that the Battalion-540 under the Military Operation Command- 9 based in Mrauk-U was completely seized by the AA army, and military equipment and ammunition were also seized on January 30.
Additionally, the Arakan Army reportedly captured the Light Infantry Battalion-378 on February 5, the Light Infantry Battalion-377 on February 7, and the remaining Police Battalion No.31 on February 8.