Junta soldiers have detained over 70 villagers from Thargyin Village, in Nganzun Township, Mandalay Region, and are currently holding them in Nandwin Monastery.

On the morning of 3 September about 100 junta soldiers barricaded the entrances and exits to Thargyin Village, a village of approximately 1,000 households. Once the troops had blocked off the village they started to detain villagers and take them to Nandwin Monastery in Thargyin Village, where the junta soldiers are stationed.

“The Military Council was patrolling around the village and detaining villagers. We are afraid to go out, so we have locked our doors and are staying inside. The junta soldiers detained 50 people on 3 September. The number has now exceeded 70 as of this morning [4 September]”, said a resident of Thargyin Village.

Another resident also said on 4 September: “Only men in the village were specifically targeted and detained.”

The detentions follow a 1 September drone attack by defence force fighters on junta soldiers stationed near Thargyin Village, which reportedly killed seven junta soldiers, according to villagers.

Following the drone attack, the junta troops moved their base to Nandwin Monastery in Thargyin Village. After the move, the soldiers started an investigation and started arresting men in Thargyin Village.

The detained men in Nandwin Monastery are being interrogated, according to locals.

Junta soldiers have been raiding villages in Nganzun Township since the beginning of August, according to local sources.