A Burma Army soldier and two of his family members were shot and killed while returning to a base in Hsipaw Township after purchasing supplies in a village, police said.

Among the casualties are Sergeant Clerk Myint Lin from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 17, his mother-in-law Daw Myint Khin, and a six-year-old child. The incident occurred near Manli village at around 4 p.m. on Saturday. The three were reportedly ambushed by troops from an unknown armed group, according to an on-duty policeman at Hsipaw’s police station who spoke to SHAN under the condition of anonymity.

“We don’t know which armed group carried it out. The sergeant clerk and the child died on the spot. Daw Myint Khin died at the hospital,” the policeman said.

While at least 10 local civilians, cattle traders and drivers have been murdered by unknown assailants in Hsipaw Township this year, this is the first known incident targeting the family members of a government soldier.

Among ethnic armed organizations active in the area, there is no history of ambushing and killing the relatives of Burma Army—also known as Tatmadaw—soldiers, said one political analyst who also spoke to SHAN anonymously.

“In this incident, no one knows who did it. It is also possible that it was another Tatmadaw soldier who may have had a disagreement with the deceased,” the analyst said.

Located in northern Shan State, Hsipaw Township has outposts belonging to multiple active armed groups, including the Tatmadaw, the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army, the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army.