SENG PHOO — The manager of a guest house and his spouse were found murdered in Kyaukme Township in northern Shan State.

 The bloodied bodies of the couple were found on the night of September 8 with several knife wounds at Ne Lwin’s guest house in Pang Pao village.

Tin Maung Thein, from Ziwita Social Team in Kyaukme town, told SHAN that since the couple’s assailant(s) remains at large they still don’t know the motive for the crime.

All of the manager’s wife’s gold jewellery, which she typically wore on her body, is missing. Tin Maung Thein said it’s possible the couple may have known the perpetrator(s).

Ne Lwin’s guest house, which is located next to a toll gate, is popular with travelers. Many commercial car and motorcycle drivers, and salespeople stay at the guest house.

Tin Maung Thein said the residence also attracted other types of guests, including drug dealers and soldiers from some of the armed groups in the area. “What I’m saying is that people of different backgrounds used to stay at the guest house.”

According to the police report, Tin Maung Aye, 59, and his wife Khin Win, 55, were murdered. Tin Maung Aye was stabbed in the neck, while Khin Win was found with two wounds to her chest.

A Kyaukme Township police officer said they have opened a murder investigation but still don’t have any suspects.

There are many different armed groups in Kyaukme Township, some of which are fighting with each other intermittently. Some are also involved in the illicit narcotics trade.