The military is issuing a curfew and making arrests in Sumpi Yang Village, Putao Township.

Pajau Media Channel

According to Sumpi Yang residents, a curfew has been issued after 6:00 PM and the locals are forcibly arrested and detained in Sumpi Yang Village, Putao Township, Kachin State.

“We can’t go out from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM. The villagers are in trouble due to the curfew. Everyone roaming around after 6:00 PM on the street was arrested and fastened their feet in the stocks. Most of the people who were arrested were young people and even the 10 Houses Group Elder were arrested. We can’t even stand outside of our house compound or visit our neighbors after 6:00 PM. If you stay outside after 6:00 PM, you will get arrested,” a local told Pajau Media.

According to local residents, an order has been issued in Sumpi Yang Village that no one is allowed to go outside of their houses between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM and it has been issued since December 2023.

Since that time, the military has been patrolling the village and forcibly arresting and detaining the residents who went around within the specified time. Those who were arrested, including the youths, and even the 10 Houses Group Elders were fastened their feet in the stocks. And the above person said that if more than 100,000 money is found during the interrogations and inspection, it will be taken away as tax.

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said that the local people do not know the reason for the army’s arrests and detentions in the village, and that there have been almost 10 people arrested so far.

“People who were arrested were held in groups at the administrative office. And parents and elders came to take them out the next day. I don’t know exactly why they were arrested. They said it was due to the security of the village. They only asked the arrested people if they had any connection with the KIA and PDFs or not. And there have been almost 10 people arrested till today,” he said.

It is said that the military which does the arrests and inspections is a joint force joined by Infantry Battalion (137) and the militia. It is also said that due to continuous inspections, it is becoming difficult for the local residents to travel and go around in the village.

Sumpi Yang Village has a total of more than 170 houses and it is a village with more than 1000 inhabitants.

News – Mali Hku

Photo credit - KNG