One man was shot dead and another was arrested in Mrauk-U during an incident at a Tatmadaw checkpoint on the morning of January 19, according to Arakan State lawmaker U Tun Thar Sein.

The passengers of a motorbike traveling from Kyauktaw Township to Minbya Township were shot at in front of the Tatmadaw’s No. 540 Battalion outpost, as its driver did not heed a military traffic stop, U Tun Thar Sein said.

“The one who has been arrested is from Kyauktaw. Another man named Ko Htay Naing died of three bullet injuries in his arms and chest,” the local MP said.

The Tatmadaw released a statement saying a man was killed and another man identified as Maha Kyaw Mi was arrested after security forces fired warning shots when a suspect motorbike did not submit to a Tatmadaw checkpoint for vehicles running the Yangon-Sittwe road near where the military battalion was stationed.

Maha Kyaw Mi said Ko Htay Naing, 32, was transporting him on an itinerary with Malaysia as the final destination, through Ayeyarwady Region, the statement said, adding that Maha Kyaw Mi paid K700,000 (US$485) for the travel arrangements.

Ko Htay Naing was from Zauk Kone village in Ayeyarwady Region and Maha Kyaw Mi is from Paik Kala village in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, U Tun Thar Sein said.

Maha Kyaw Mi, who was arrested after the motorbike he was a passenger on took gunfire. (Photo - Office of the Commander-in-Chief)