On 25 September junta personnel carried out searches of the Yangon Region port city of Thanlyin after deserting navy personnel and juvenile prisoners and disappeared in the area, according to local sources.

On the evening of 24 September 11 junta navy troops deserted with all their weapons from one of the navy bases in Thanlyin Township, when they were supposed to be on patrol.

On the morning of 25 September, 14 youths killed a guard and escaped from the Thanlyin Boy’s Training School juvenile detention centre in Thanlyin.

“Searches were carried out in a few locations in Thanlyin Township. First I heard that 14 prisoners from the juvenile detention centre killed a guard before escaping. Second it was reported that 11 navy personnel deserted with their weapons whilst on patrol last night [24 September]. I have not yet been able to verify all the details”, another local source said to Mzzima.

Mizzima is continuing investigations into the incidents.

Previously, on 31 August, two junta soldiers deserted after attacking the soldiers manning the shooting range where they were practicing in Thanlyin Township’s Sattpyitkwin Village.