Two people were shot and wounded when an unknown armed group in Ye Township shot at and robbed six buses and a truck travelling from Rangoon to Tavoy in the early hours of 15 September.
The attack happened just after midnight near milepost 82/6, on the Moulmein-Ye highway, near Hnint-Sout Village in Ye Township.
Front of Bus Showing Bullet Holes
One of the passengers said: "After two gunshots, they stopped our bus. The bus driver continued driving because he did not hear the gunshots, then one [of the unknown armed men] came out on to the road and fired again. They then made all the passengers lie face down in the road. They said they didn't want gold, but that they wanted money and demanded that everyone gave them their money."
Some of the buses were damaged by gunfire. One each of the buses came from: Shwe Pearl Thee Buses, Aunt Win’s, Kaung Thit San and Lucky Star, whilst two of the buses came from Aung Yatanar. The truck, which also suffered some gunshot damage, came from the Shwe Myitmoe Company.
The Shwe Pearl Thee bus conductor was wounded in his right thigh, whilst the Lucky Star Driver Ko Min Min suffered a wounded ear. The armed men also took about 600, 000 kyats from the drivers and passengers.
U Khin Aung, the owner of the Lucky Star bus company went to the police station in Lamine Town to file a lawsuit against the unknown assailants under Article 394 (Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery). At present government army battalions based in the area are searching for the criminals.
Hnint-Sout Village is under the administration of the Lamine Sub-Township and the Lamine Town Police Station. A Karen armed group which gained government recognition by surrendering to the government also operates in the area. Previously at the site of the ambush there was a tollgate where every passing bus or truck was required to pay a toll.
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
