An armed group reportedly abducted the driver and assistant of a Mandalar Minn Express bus near Yaungdaung village, which is located along the Mudon-Thanbyuzayat road in Mon State’s Mudon Township. The incident occurred on the evening of January 5th , according to local residents and sources from the bus company.
The bus, traveling from Mudon to Thanbyuzayat, was stopped by the armed group around 5 p.m. near the village. Sources close to Mandalar Minn Express revealed, that
passengers were ordered off the bus, and the driver, assistant, and the bus itself were taken toward Kunhlar village,
“The bus is equipped with GPS, so it was found near the Kunhlar village cemetery. Around 1 a.m. on January 6, junta troops raided the area, firing shots to secure the bus. They recovered the vehicle, but the driver and assistant were already taken away by the armed group,” said a source familiar with the situation.
The bus was later driven to the Mudon police station, where goods belonging to the passengers were collected and transported to the Mandalar Minn terminal in Thanbyuzayat.
Approximately 10 passengers were on the bus at the time of the abduction. According to passenger accounts, the armed group did not seize their mobile phones, wallets, or other personal belongings.
“Once the bus was taken, we were left stranded. The road was empty at the time, so we walked toward Thanbyuzayat. Some of us managed to contact family members to pick us up, while others were able to get back to the town safely. Luckily, the armed group didn’t take our phones,” one passenger recounted.
As of now, the identity of the armed group responsible for the abduction remains unconfirmed. The New Mon State Party (NMSP-AD), which operates in the Mudon area, stated they have no information regarding the incident.
“We haven’t received any information about this matter yet. We are still inquiring with our field members,” said NMSP-AD spokesperson Nai Kaung Sakar.
According to sources close to the bus company, the driver and assistant remain missing.
