At least 76 civilians were killed by Myanmar’s junta in a village in Sittwe Township of Rakhine State, the Arakan Army (AA) said on Tuesday.
AA said that the incident, which is still under investigation, saw junta troops detaining residents over alleged links with the group and executing them over a two-day period, reports the Irrawaddy.
During the raid last Wednesday, junta soldiers detained villagers, holding them in the midday sun without food or water, and searched their homes for evidence of any links with AA.
According to a resident, almost all those killed were men, with bodies found near a lake beside the field where they were detained. The troops reportedly beat and tortured male detainees found with tattoos connected to the AA.
Over 80 homes and a monastery in Byian Phyu were burned. Residents also confirmed that women, children, and older villagers were relocated to Wingaber field in Sittwe and nearby monasteries, preventing them from returning home.
The National Unity Government (NUG) condemned the killings, vowing to seek justice for the victims.
In a separate incident, at least 27 civilians, including three children, were killed when a Myanmar junta aircraft bombed a wedding ceremony in Sagaing Region’s Mingin Township on Monday.
Increasing airstrikes have killed over 359 civilians, including 61 children, and injured 756 others in the first four months of 2024, according to research group Nyan Lynn Thit.