According to local sources, two fire department officials previously detained in Paung Township, Mon State, have been released. The released individuals include the Fire Chief and the Deputy Director of the General Administration Department.
On February 24, the military junta arrested six individuals, including fire department members and local business owners, accusing them of having ties to the People’s Defense Forces (PDF).
A resident of Paung confirmed that Fire Chief U Myat Ko Ko and Deputy Director U Kyaw Myo were released after authorities deemed them innocent.
“I can confirm that one person was released a day earlier, and the Fire Chief was released yesterday. However, four others remain in detention. They have been separated and are being held in different locations. A 45-year-old man named Sein Lwin was also recently taken into custody,” the resident said.
Despite these releases, the military junta has reportedly arrested U Sein Lwin, a 45-year-old business owner, in recent days on allegations of being linked to the detained individuals.
The remaining detainees include Ko Zar Ni, the owner of the Royal Boarding House, and businesspeople U Moe Nge, U Zaw Win Myint, and Daw Kyaw Kyaw San. As of today, these individuals, along with U Sein Lwin, have not been transferred to the Paung Township police station, leading locals to believe they are still under military interrogation.
Similarly, a tutor named Ye Htun Naing, who was arrested on February 21 in Uttantar village, has also not been transferred to the police station. A resident suggested that the current detainees may be linked to his arrest.
“The tutor’s phone led to the capture of many of them. As of now, there has been no news about him. His family has confirmed that he has not returned home, and none of the recently released detainees have seen him,” the resident added.
Paung Township has witnessed frequent arrests by the military junta due to the presence of informants and members of the pro-military Pyu Saw Htee militia, as well as a significant number of PDF supporters. These arrests have been accompanied by accusations and executions of suspected informants by resistance forces.
On February 3, several improvised explosive devices were discovered under a bridge on the Yangon-Mawlamyine road near the border of Uttantar village and Moe Nine Ward in Paung Township. Following the discovery, authorities detained a local suspect for questioning but later released them.
Additionally, on February 26, an armed group shot and killed U Myint Soe, a ward administrator, after targeting the wife of the Nyaung Kone Gyi village administrator, who was accused of extorting money on behalf of the military junta.
