Fighting between army and Arakan Army (AA) is intensified in northern Rakhine State on February 10 and the army asked for help from the air force as there are many AA forces in the area, announced the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services on February 10.

Four members of AA arrived in Theintan Village, Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State and they were conflicts with the villagers as they tried to rape a woman in the village. They threatened the villagers to deny the rape attempted case and took a video record. They also made them to sign and took fingerprints, announced the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services on February 2.

The AA arrested some villagers on February 1 and they encountered with the army near Aungzeya Village about 10,000 meters away from southeast of Theintan Village on February 2. The army found the bodies of AA members and weapons in the area and the AA members retreated to the north, said the announcement.

The army followed after the AA and they encountered between Kwantaung and Saparhtar villages about 5,000 meters east of Theintan Village on February 10.

The army asked for help from the air force as AA surrounded the army in large numbers. The army attacked the AA using heavy guns and air strikes and it found the bodies of AA and weapons, it said.

Some AA members assumed to be some of their leaders were seen riding on a boat in Sai Din creek and the army sunk the boat, it said.

The army buried the bodies of AA members, it said.

The reinforcement of AA arrived in the hills near the place where the fighting took place and the army is fighting the AA using heavy guns and air strikes.

The AA disturbed administrative system in Rakhine State, detained, tortured, killed, raped and threatened MPs, company staffs, administers of the towns and villages, government staffs, retired military men and civilians and robbed money including salaries of government staffs, it said.

The AA created fighting and conflicts in Bengali villages lately to have negative view on the government and army from international community and to make instability in the area, it said.