The head monk of Pope Pa Yone monastery in Nabu Ai Village, Myingyan township, Mandalay Region, was arrested by Myanmar junta troops on the morning of December 3, according to locals.

According to a villager, it was not clear why he was arrested.

"I think he was accused of being related to fighters of People Defence Forces (PDF) as usual and arrested. It is not known for sure. At present, the senior monks of Sangha Nayaka in Myingyan township are holding a meeting to discuss to take the head monk out of custody. I did not see clearly how many troops there are. Junta troops woke the monk up and arrested him while he was asleep,” the villager told Mizzima.

The head monk was taken to an interrogation centre at the Light Infantry Battalion (15) base under the 99th Brigade in Myingyan, 15 miles from Nabu Ai village, according to locals.

Recently, two local residents were arrested at a house with a signboard of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Nabu Ai village. A local resident said that the junta troops also broke into the home of the NLD chairman and took his property. Villagers have reportedly fled from the village.