Members of Arakan Army (AA) stabbed a military officer and kidnapped a soldier that accompanied the military officer, going to a market in Ponnakyun Township on June 11, said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Htun, Secretary of Tatmadaw True News Information Team.

A total of eight people approached them at Ayesatae junction near Myothit market and one of them knifed the officer. The others beat them using iron sticks while the officer is trying to pull his pistol out. When civilians circled them, they carried the soldier that was unconscious due to the beating, and took the pistol to run away on five motorbikes, announced the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services.

“The military officer and the soldier went to the market in civilian clothes and the AA members attacked and handcuffed them. Then the AA knifed the officer,” said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Htun.

The military officer is now receiving medical treatment and the rumours in social media said he died, the Brig-Gen said.

The security forces are investigating the case, he said.

Fighting between army and AA forces occurred in Rakhine State since January 4 last year and the AA members and their strong supporters attacked officials and security forces using guns and swords since then, the army announced.

Head of Tainnyo police station from Mrauk-U Township was killed on March 23, 2019 while he was on the way to an inn and he was killed after the AA threatened to kill him, it said.

Moreover the AA sent a warning letter to a Sub-inspector from Nwaryonetaung village police station in Buthidaung Township and two locals during December 2018 and attacked Yotayote police station in Ponnakyun Township killing nine policemen and injuring others.

Clashes between the army and the AA intensified in the state after the AA attacked four police outposts in Buthidaung Township on January 4, 2019 at the same time. In the clashes, civilians were died and injured. In some of the villages, all villagers had to run away.

The AA members and their supporters also killed a village administrator and his wife using swords in Kyauktaw Township, it said.

Moreover six AA members attacked a Sub-inspector from Yotayote police station and his wife, while they are on the way to market, using swords and sticks killing the Sub-inspector.