Maungdaw, Arakan State | April 5, 2026, Local residents in Tha Yet Oek Village, Maungdaw Township, say that members of the Arakan Army (AA) forced the families of two slain Rohingya youths to record videos claiming that the group was not responsible for their deaths.
The deceased have been identified as Muhammed Enus, 21, and Muhammad Sawlam, 22. According to local sources, the two young men were taken away by AA members on the evening of March 27. Residents said the victims remained missing for four days before their bodies were later discovered in a pond near Thu U Lar Village.
Editor’s Note: The following image may be distressing to some readers.
The bodies of the two victims were reportedly recovered near a pond close to Thu U Lar Village, according to local residents.
According to multiple local residents, members of the AA entered the village on April 3 and 4 and warned villagers not to speak publicly about the incident. Sources further reported that the already-buried bodies were exhumed and photographed.
On April 4, AA members reportedly returned to the village and took the family members of the deceased, along with several village elders, to record videos.
Local residents said the families were pressured and threatened to state in the videos that the killings were not connected to the AA and were instead carried out by other armed groups. Residents also said they were warned not to discuss the incident or share any information publicly.
Several villagers stated that they believe the two youths were killed by AA members operating near Tha Yet Oek Village, where armed men are said to move around both day and night.
The incident has increased fear among local communities, with residents expressing growing concerns over their safety. Independent verification of the allegations remains difficult due to limited access to the area.
