A local resident from Taung Myint village in Mrauk-U Township died of a bullet wound this morning while he was undergoing medical treatment at Mrauk-U hospital, his family told the DMG.

Ko Maung Gyi (aka) Bo Than Tun, 22, was injured from a gunshot fired by a Tatmadaw soldier near Tin Nyo village while he was on a boat heading to Tin Nyo village to transport paddy strain on Tuesday, his elder sister Daw Aye Aye Nu said.

“We all are on the motor boat. The Tatmadaw troop shot us and he was hit. They shot countless times,” she said.

He received a head injury and was taken to Mrauk-U hospital. His wounds were severe, so family members were arranging to take him to Sittwe hospital, but he died at Mrauk-U hospital, said Ko San Wai, who is helping them.

“He died at 9 a.m. The doctor said that he should be taken to Sittwe hospital because his condition was critical. He died as we were getting him on the ambulance. He did not regain consciousness since he was shot,” he said.

The DMG phoned colonel Win Zaw Oo from the Western Command for comment regarding the case, he responded that “he was not aware of this incident”.

While the Tatmadaw and the AA are fighting in Arakan State, the number of detained villagers on suspicion of being members of the AA has increased. The Tatmadaw detained over 270 men in Kyauktan village, Rathedaung Township, on 2 May, eight villagers were shot by the Tatmadaw during detention.