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MANDALAY DIVISION – Two women reportedly dropped an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) package near the checkpoint of the junta forces on the 78th street, near Tagontaing traffic lights in Pyigyidagun Township, Mandalay. Using that as an excuse, the junta forces blocked the entrances of the town and the whole town to conduct searches and extorted money from the civilians, as well as desperate patrols in private cars, as said by the local residents.
According to claims spread by junta propaganda sources, two women on a motorcycle dropped a black bag near No. 32 Basic Education High School on 78th street, near Tagontaing traffic lights around 10:30 a.m. on September 2, which aroused suspicion and the junta forces later cleared the mines.
However, local information sources said that it was misinformation spread to cover up news that a grenade was thrown into the military compound, near Tagontaing traffic lights.
The black bag was seen being covered with car tires. It was not near the school, but was taken from the north, from a military compound, confirmed the local information sources.
Later the junta forces blocked the entrances of the town and extorted money from the civilians. They even opened the toolboxes of the motorcycles to be inspected, said the local people.
Moreover, the junta forces in mufti were seen patrolling around the town in private cars such as Honda fit and Mark II and stopped motorcycles and cars to be inspected and extorted money from those on board.
The junta forces blocked Sein Pan and Ayeyartun Wards in Maharaung Myay Township, Mandalay to inspect and extort money on the morning of September 2. Whether there have been any local residents abducted or not could not be confirmed yet.
Despite inspecting day and night, extortion and the violence by the junta forces throughout Mandalay, an explosion occurred in the compound of the department of Public health and Medical Services, Mandalay Division, at the corner of 70th street and 28th street near Mandalay moat where ordinary people are restricted to enter, on the afternoon of August 31 and the junta staff got wounded.