An unknown armed group allegedly kidnapped three local business owners and their driver on the Lashio to Mandalay highway on 25 July.

The men were detained as they were traveling from Lashio to a business meeting in Mandalay.

"Four people were detained in total, they were three businessmen and a driver. All we know is that they were apprehended by an armed group on their way to Mandalay. There are several claims that they were kidnapped for money”, a Lashio resident said to Mizzima on 29 July.

The four detained people are: U Kyaw Win, the owner of a zinc sheet plate factory, U Mutta, the owner of a hardware shop, an unnamed Chinese businessman who owns a grocery store and the unnamed driver.

It is not known which group abducted the men and investigations are still ongoing.

Since the coup there have been frequent thefts, robberies and kidnappings in northern Shan State’s Lashio, Kyaukme, Kutkai and Muse townships, according to locals.