Military regime troops stationed at Kyauk Ngat village tract, Ywangan Township, southern Shan State, are reportedly arresting civilians and demanding large sums of money for their release, according to local residents.

On March 8, five villagers, including one woman, were intercepted by military personnel while returning from visiting relatives along the road between Kyauk Ngat and Oak Twin villages. Troops allegedly demanded a ransom of 5 million kyats (approximately USD 1,300) for their release.

A local source familiar with the incident said the payment did not secure the release of all detainees.

“They were stopped by a patrol in the evening while returning from a nearby village. We had to pay 50 lakh in Ywangan to secure their release, but only two were freed. The army told us the others had already been sent for military training,” the man said.

According to residents, only the woman and one man were released after the payment, while the remaining three men were forcibly conscripted into military service. The three, reportedly in their 30s, are daily-wage laborers and the primary breadwinners for their families.

In a separate incident during the second week of March, military forces reportedly carried out a nighttime raid in Theim Kone village tract, surrounding the area and detaining two women and one man. Their families have since been unable to contact them, and the reasons for their detention remain unclear.

“We don’t know why they were taken. Soldiers arrived in vehicles at night and surrounded the area. There has been no news of them since,” a female resident from Ywangan told SHAN.

Residents say military troops have maintained a strong presence in the area, conducting regular night patrols and forcing villagers to provide food supplies.

The security situation in Ywangan remains volatile amid ongoing clashes between the military regime and local resistance forces. Checkpoints have tightened inspections, further restricting movement.

Local sources say the recent wave of arrests follows a reported military setback on February 18, when resistance forces ambushed a military patrol along the Kyauk Ngat–Oak Twin road, reportedly killing around ten soldiers.

Residents fear civilians are increasingly being targeted in retaliation, deepening insecurity in the area.