ULA detains Arakanese merchants after dispute at Khaikhy border, leading to temporary trade route closure

The law enforcement wing of the United League of Arakan (ULA) has detained several Arakanese merchants after a dispute at the Khaikhy border port along the India-Myanmar trade corridor, according to local sources. Authorities are preparing disciplinary action to resolve the issue and reopen vital supply lines. The detentions stem from a September 14 verbal altercation between local youths and Arakanese merchants at Khaikhy, a crucial transit hub. Ko Zaw Naing Linn of Kyauktaw Township and several others involved in the dispute were taken into custody by the ULA’s Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS). Bilateral discussions resolved the dispute, officials stated. However, the fallout severely impacted regional commerce. The Arakan Army (AA)—the armed wing of the ULA—temporarily shuttered the Shinletwa-Khaikhy road for three days. Concurrently, the Mara Thyutlia Py (MTP) in India's Mizoram State issued a September 16 statement suspending traffic along the Lodaw, Lungmasu, and Khaikhy routes in Siaha District. At Khaikhy, local youth representatives from the MTP oversee the departure of cargo boats bound for Myanmar's Rakhine (Arakan) State. "Traders are currently using alternative routes," a merchant from Kyauktaw Township said. "But if a key trade route remains closed, the flow of goods will decrease and face delays. Negotiations are essential." With the ULA taking disciplinary action, officials from both sides are actively negotiating to resume regular transport. An Arakanese youth based in Mizoram noted that while some traders are stranded, wet-season transport via the Kaladan Project route is preventing a total supply shortage. "If the route stays blocked, local residents and truck drivers in Mizoram will also face livelihood difficulties," he added. Cross-border trade along this corridor is frequently disrupted by localized disputes. On February 12, the same route was closed for a week following the killing of an Indian truck driver in Paletwa Township. Local merchants are urging authorities to establish better mechanisms to prevent future blockades on this critical economic lifeline.