Military council troops abducted 50 men from four villages along Hpakant Road to use as human shields, and they have not been released, locals said.
A junta military column that advanced from the direction of Hpakant between 4 pm November 30 and 3 am December 2 abducted men and drivers from Kyaukhtu, Gatnwe, Tadarnyinaung and Hkun Sai villages, a resident of Hkun Sai village told Kachin News Group (KNG).
“People close to the arrested men told me that the junta military columns coming down from Hpakant went from house to house to see if there were any men and arrested them. Some of them were about ten drivers who were travelling on Hpakant Road,” he said.
According to reports, regime forces took the 50 men to the Namya military camp around 4 am and are currently being held there.
Of the 50 detained, ten drivers were released on the morning of December 2.
Sources close to the families of those arrested said they had been told by the junta that those arrested would continue to be taken to Kamaing town.
The junta army’s abduction of the civilians was for their [junta troops’] protection because they were afraid of being attacked by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the sources said.
The families are very concerned that those arrested have still not been released and are demanding their immediate release.
The regime column, reportedly hiding in the forests near Kyaukhtu village, abducted the 50 men on their way down from Hpakant.
Sent by KNG.