Two Rohingya Men Die After Being Detained by Arakan Army in Rakhine State
Two Rohingya men have died under suspicious circumstances following their detention by the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State, Myanmar, according to credible local sources and direct interviews with the victims’ families conducted by WSNews24.
Shuna Miah’s Death in Custody
On 29 July, the body of 35-year-old Rohingya man Shuna Miah was found near a Rakhine village in Pauktaw Township, days after he had been detained by the AA. He had been arrested on 15 July after a theft complaint was filed against his son, Nazi. The AA transported Shuna Miah to its local office near Gandhi Village in the Ale Kyun area.
According to local community leaders, AA officials later contacted them, saying there was insufficient evidence to continue holding him and requested someone from the village come and take him home. However, on 28 July, the same AA officials claimed that Shuna Miah had escaped from custody.
Tragically, the following morning, his dead body was discovered near a Rakhine village. Local leaders approached the Arakan Army seeking permission to retrieve the body, but as of the time of reporting, permission had not been granted, and the body remains at the site.
Muhammad Arshad’s Mysterious Death After Release
In a separate case, a young Rohingya man, Muhammad Arshad, died shortly after being released from AA custody. The circumstances of his arrest and the cause of death remain unclear. However, multiple sources, including the families of both victims, confirmed the events to WSNews24.
Pattern of Abuse and Rising Fear
The two deaths have fueled growing fear and distrust among the Rohingya communities living under AA-controlled or contested areas in Rakhine. Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Pauktaw and nearby townships already live under strict movement restrictions and surveillance, further intensifying their vulnerability.
Local sources and humanitarian monitors warn that such incidents could represent a pattern of abuse, raising urgent questions about arbitrary detention, custodial violence, and lack of accountability in conflict zones.
WSNews24 continues to follow developments in both cases and has requested responses from the Arakan Army. No official statement has been issued by the AA as of this publication.
