Buddhist missionary monk among three arrested by PDF
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Phyo/Thant Zin (NP News) - Nov 15
Sources familiar with the incident told the Statesman Journal that three monks, including a monk who was serving as a missionary in India, were dragged off a passenger bus and arrested by the PDF group in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region.
The incident occurred on the morning of November 6, near Kinbya village, west of Shwebo township.
“It happened on the morning of the November 6. The monk was traveling between Shwebo and India. The monk also has a monastery in India. From Shwebo, the monk took two disciples and went to India. All of them were arrested. They were pulled off the passenger bus by the PDFs and arrested,” a person familiar with the incident told the Statesman.
The arrested monk is said to be Dr. Ashin Visuta, over 40 years old, and a founder monk of the Win Win Condensed Milk Myanmar Monastery in India.
Two monks, both in their 30s, were also arrested along with the Sayadaw, and no contact has been made with them to this day (November 12).
“On November 7, the PDF arrived and took three vehicles from the Shwebo monastery. So far, there has been no contact. There’s nothing update to report. Kinbya Village is located west of Shwebo. They were dragged from the Win Thitsa vehicle. The vehicle was later released, but the three monks were taken into custody,” according to the above-mentioned source.
Currently, security forces are conducting investigations in an attempt to secure the release of the arrested monks.
Since the political upheaval of 2021, more than 100 monks and nuns have been killed in shootings and assassinations, and two pastors have also been killed.
It is reported that only a small percentage of deaths were caused by mutual shooting and fighting between the two sides, while more than 90 percent were killed by the PDFs based on various accusations.