Toddler raped and murdered in Maungdaw; four suspects detained

By Admin 17 Mar 2026

DMG Newsroom

17 March 2026, Maungdaw

A two-year-old girl was reportedly raped and murdered in Aung Thukha Village, southern Maungdaw Township, an area under the control of the Arakan Army (AA), on March 16. Authorities have since detained a 13-year-old boy and three other suspects in connection with the crime.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:00 PM while the victim’s mother was away foraging for clams near the coast. The teenage suspect, a fellow villager, allegedly lured the child to his home where the assault and killing took place.

"The mother returned from the seaside and searched for her child to breastfeed, but could not find her," said a woman close to the family. "After the mother reported the disappearance to the village administrator, the entire community joined the search. The child’s body was eventually discovered yesterday evening, wrapped in a gunny sack, behind a local residence."

Witnesses and family associates allege an attempt was made to conceal the crime. Sources claim the perpetrator’s mother initially buried the toddler’s body inside their home but later exhumed and discarded it outside the village as the community-wide search intensified.

"The mother is an accomplice. I believe she panicked when the village started searching," the source added. "When the body was found, there were injuries to the forehead and the tongue had been severed. The child’s jewelry, including her bracelets and earrings, was also missing."

Medical examiners from the Arakan Army confirmed signs of extreme physical trauma and sexual assault.

"According to the medical examination, the child suffered internal ruptures and significant hemorrhaging. Authorities stated the findings confirm she had been raped," another woman familiar with the case told DMG.

The primary suspect and three others are currently being interrogated by the Department of Law Enforcement and Public Safety (DLEPS).

This marks the latest in a series of violent sexual crimes in the region. On January 17, a six-year-old girl was reportedly raped by a 50-year-old man in the same village. Additionally, on March 3, an eight-year-old girl in Phadugyi Village, Pauktaw Township, was allegedly raped by 40-year-old U Tun Aung Chay, who remains at large.

As cases of sexual violence rise in AA-controlled areas, the public is calling on the United Arakan League/Arakan Army (UAL/AA) judicial department to ensure swift and transparent justice for the victims.