NAYPYITAW, 06 November 2021, (TON): Relatives of 19 civilians who were taken from their village in southern Shan State’s Pekhon Township last week say they are growing increasingly worried about their fate.

The villagers have been missing since last Wednesday, when soldiers raided the village of Kathea (Shwe Pyi Aye) after shelling the area during clashes with resistance forces the day before.

Their relatives said “most of the village’s more than 400 inhabitants fled the shelling, but 19 who stayed behind to care for livestock were taken into regime custody and haven’t been heard from since.”

Photographs of the abducted villagers that Myanmar Now has seen show a group of blindfolded men being led away. Their identities could not, however, be confirmed.

“We haven’t received any information about them since they were taken away,” said one woman whose 48-year-old uncle and 35-year-old cousin are among the missing villagers.

She added “all we know is that the military always beats and tortures the people they take. I can’t even imagine what it’s like for them now.”

According to the woman, some residents of the village believe that the 19 who were taken away last week are currently being held at a nearby military base.