Arakan Army (AA) denied the killing of villagers from Kyat-U and Siphalaung villages in Paletwa, Chin State on January 12 and the army announced the villagers were detained and killed by the AA.

The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services announced on January 12 that the AA arrested Hla Sein, Chit Su and Harvi Hla, headmaster of the village primary school at the house of Hla Sein on January 7 and took them to the north of village.

Kyat-U villagers found the bodies of detainees with knife injures on January 10 in the fields between Kyat-U and Arnkuwa villages.

The announcement said the AA tortured and killed innocent civilians in Paletwa in addition to arrested them in groups and the military is providing security in the area.

Although the army and Khumi Chin ethnic group coordination committee announced the three villagers were killed by the AA, the AA denied the killing.

The AA said the place where the bodies were found is about 2.5 kilometers away from Paletwa and it is in the area where No.289 Infantry Regiment is based. The AA forces are not moving in that area.

In the area, No.11 Brigade, No.77 Brigade and No.9 Operations Control Command are also based. The army is patrolling in the area for the security of No.9 Operations Control Command, according to the AA.

The AA announced they wants truth and justice for those who were killed and is ready to cooperate with anyone to discover the truth.