Five Local Men Shot At and Abducted by Radical Armed Group ARSA in Maungdaw(One abducted, four escaped)

News ၊ July 21, 2026

ARSA member in Arakan-Bangladesh Border (Photo - ARSA telegram)

It has been reported that four Chakma men and one Chak man were ambushed and shot at by members of ARSA, an Islamic extremist militant group conducting terrorist activities in Maungdaw, Arakan, on July 17.

Among the five targeted locals, one Chakma man sustained bullet wounds and was abducted, while the remaining four managed to escape.

The man shot and abducted by the ARSA militant group was identified as U Tun Maung (41) from Aung Tha Pyay village, Maungdaw Township. Those who escaped are U Tha Noe Aung (54), U Ba Kha Yar (50), Ko John Go (20), and Ko Ro Bi Aung (18), all from the same village.

The incident occurred at around 10:30 AM on July 17, as the five men were traveling from Aung Tha Pyay village to Baw Du Lar Market to transport goods. En route, three members of the Islamic extremist militant group ARSA ambushed them with firearms.

During the attack, U Tun Maung was hit by gunfire, fell to the ground, and was subsequently taken by ARSA members, while the other four men managed to flee to safety.

It is reported that the ARSA group has since contacted U Tun Maung's family by phone, demanding a ransom of 5 million Taka (50 Lakhs Taka) for his release.

In northern Maungdaw Township along the Arakan border, Islamic extremist militant groups such as ARSA, ARA, RSO, and RIM continue to disrupt local stability through terrorist acts including kidnapping, killing, ambushing, and landmine attacks targeting local residents. In response, the Arakan Army has deployed additional security forces to conduct clearance operations in areas where these groups operate.

Source@ONN