An unidentified armed group abducted a 23-year-old woman from a grocery store in Lashio, northern Shan State, on February 24, in the latest incident underscoring the deteriorating security situation in the region.

According to local residents, three to four armed men entered the “Twan Kyar” grocery store in Ward 5 at around 4:30 p.m. and forcibly took the woman at gunpoint. The victim has been identified as Ma Yin Yin Tun, who was reportedly inside the shop at the time of the incident.

“Three or four men entered and took the shop owner. Based on their height, build, and the way they operated, they likely belong to one of the armed groups,” a local man told SHAN.
No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, and the woman’s whereabouts remain unknown.

The kidnapping comes just weeks after another high-profile crime in Lashio. On February 1, unidentified gunmen raided a residence in Ward 4 that was being used as a goldsmith’s workshop. The assailants reportedly made off with approximately five viss of gold — equivalent to about 8.2 kilograms — and more than 100 million kyats in cash before fleeing the scene.

Residents say such incidents have intensified despite the presence of military commission forces stationed in the city. Public frustration is mounting, with many questioning how armed groups continue to operate openly in urban areas under military control.

Territorial authority in Lashio remains divided. The military commission administers 12 central urban wards, while most surrounding village tracts outside the city limits are controlled by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), also known as the Kokang Army. This fragmented governance has created overlapping spheres of influence and persistent security gaps.

Since the February 2021 military coup, civilians across Shan State — particularly in border townships — have faced a sharp rise in kidnappings, armed robberies, and extortion. Observers say the erosion of administrative and judicial institutions has emboldened both armed actors and criminal networks, leaving residents increasingly vulnerable.

As of publication, authorities had not announced any arrests related to the February 24 abduction, and the victim’s family continues to seek information about her fate.