The Arakan Army (AA) has abducted more than 100 villagers from Kyeelay village in Paletwa Township in Chin State, said U Saw Mya from the Khumi Affairs Coordination Council (KACC).

Former Chin State Minister Salai Isaac Khen wrote a post on his facebook, saying that more than 130 villagers from Kyeelay village in Paletwa Township in Chin State were arrested by the armed group last night. The group tortured the old villagers who tried to bar them from committing the sexual violence against the young female villagers.  Teacher U Arbay La from Siphalung and two villagers have died. The situation in downtown Paletwa is unstable.”

According to a statement issued by the KACC on January 11, since one week ago, the AA has entered Kyeelay village. A member of the AA threatened to seize a young Chin girl in the village, with a gun.  The AA beat the old villagers who tried to bar them from doing so, kept the youths in the sunlight near Kalardan River, forced the villagers to transport rations to the camp in the forest, north of Kyeelay village and forcibly restricted the villagers not to go outside the village. The KACC strongly condemns the AA’s arrest of innocent locals and sexual violence against women and calls for stern actions against those who committed the cases.”

U Saw Mya of the KACC said: “We don’t accept violence. I would like to urge officials to take stern actions against those involved in the violence.”

The Kyeelay village is located about 12 miles, north of Paletwa Township and is reachable from Kaladan River.

Some villages in Paletwa Township in Chin State were damaged by ongoing fights between the Tatmadaw and the AA, and the number of IDPs has increased.