As part of the continuing crackdown on the people's protest and as a preventive measure against further unrest, Burmese authorities have been summoning and interrogating members and leaders of opposition party, the National League for Democracy, sources said.

Several NLD leaders from Pegu, Patheingyi, Mattaya, Tharsi, Myingyan, Kyauk Padaung and Pakhokku towns have reportedly been summoned and interrogated by police and Township Peace and Development Council officials.

However, the chairman of the Pegu NLD, U Myat Hla, who was called in yesterday for interrogation by a police officer and a township official was released the same evening.

"There were about seven groups interrogating me. They asked various questions. They mainly asked whether the NLD had encouraged the protesters," said U Myat Hla.

U Myat Hla was first summoned and interrogated on September 28, but released the same day.

Similarly, general secretary of the Patheingyi NLD, U Zaw Hein, was summoned by about 10 policemen in plainclothes saying "higher authorities want to meet" in the early hours of October 1. U Zaw Hein has not been released.

U Than Lwin, an NLD representative in Mattaya town in Mandalay division was also arrested yesterday at midnight by about 25 policemen and township officials headed by police commander Khin Maung Thein and Township chairman Khin Maung Soe.

They said 'higher authorities want to meet" but when I asked them whether he would be arrested then I would give him necessary things like toiletries, they said 'no we just want to talk to him' and took away my father," Than Lwin's son told Mizzima.

It is also learnt that authorities arrested U Myint Htay, a central committee member of the NLD in Tharsi town, at about 11 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday. And his whereabouts remain unknown.

"Police from the Tharsi police station came and said 'we have something to talk about' and send a policeman to fetch him. And when he reached the station, the officer said he did not call him but it was the Meikhtila township commander who wanted to meet him. Then U Myint Htay returned home once and took an extra cloth and followed them. Now we don't know his whereabouts and where he is being kept. And when we asked even the district chairman denied knowing anything about him," a family member told Mizzima.

Similarly, U Hlaing Aye, an NLD representative in Pakhokku town, was also arrested by police and township officials last night at about 1:30 a.m. (local time), sources close to the NLD representative told Mizzima.

"He was arrested at around 1:30 a.m. (local time) in the morning. He was arrested from his residence in ward no. (12) Pakhokku town. But today when family members asked at the police station, the police officers said he is not in the station. The police also arrested U San Pwint, from Kamma village in Pakhokku Township . He is also a member of the NLD," the sources added.

Besides, sources said authorities have also arrested U Sein Kyaw Hlaing, U Kyat Soe, U Win Shwe, U Than Lwin, U Paw Aye, and Ko Ye Tun, who are members of the NLD Kyauk Padaung town in Mandalay division. Secretary of the Myingyan NLD Ko Paw Thein, and member Ko Win Naing and U Bo Win were also arrested by authorities last week.