The military council is searching for a missing army couple from Buthidaung-based Light Infantry Battalion-263, in Maungdaw, villagers said.
Acting on the tip-off, soldiers and border guard forces searched the missing couple in 3rd Mile Thazi village in Maungdaw Township on the afternoon of 6 April, a villager said.
“I don’t know how they get information about defection. Since 1 April, I heard the news that a military couple ran away. Other departments are also included in the search operation. They looked around the village. But they did not say anything,” the villager added.
On the evening of 6 April, the tipper truck loaded with 30 police and soldiers from Border Guard Police Force-5 inspected pedestrians, motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles in front of cashew plantation in northern Maungdaw, a local said.
The couple is from the LIB-263 based in Buthidaung. The soldier’s rank and name are still unknown.
According to the villagers, the soldier and his wife defected. The Narinjara is still unable to separately confirm the news as it cannot contact the military.
On 19 March, two junta soldiers from the border guard force stationed at Zayditaung pagoda on the upstream of the Nanyar Creek near Zaydipyin village in Rathedaung Township defected to the Arakan Army (AA).
On 6 March, four members of the Border Guard Force (BGF) from Border Guard Police Force-9 Battalion in Myin Lwet Border Camp in southern Maungdaw Township defected along with weapons.
In late January, three junta soldiers from MraukU-based Battalion-540 and a corporal from MraukU-based Battalion-378 deserted along with weapons.
In 2022, some junta soldiers stationed on Mahamuni Pagoda Hill in Kyauktaw Township deserted without any weapons.
Currently, the junta chief himself has to organize soldiers due to the rising number of deserters in Arakan State.
Sent by Htay Htay Aung (Narinjara)