The army lost contact with about 20 soldiers including a battalion commander from No.7 Light Infantry Regiment based in Kyaukkyi, Bago Region, said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun, Secretary of Tatmadaw True News Information Team.

Arakan Army (AA) said on March 11 that the missing soldiers are in their hands.

The fighting between army and AA intensified in Paletwa Township, Chin State on March 10 and the army is trying to make contact with the missing soldiers, he said.

The AA said they caught 20 soldiers including a battalion commander, who had been sent in as reinforcements to Miewa area, on March 10.

The AA said they also seized weapons and ammunitions from the soldiers.

The AA said they had casualties in the fighting but they didn’t say the number of the casualties.

It said they also captured ten soldiers including a captain and a medical officer from the same regiment on March 11. They also seized 14 weapons and ammunitions.