5th grade student murdered in Maungdaw

Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 2 October 2024

A 5th grade student from the 4-mile ward of Maungdaw town in Arakan State was murdered.

He was the eldest son of Daw Sandar Win, a deputy primary school teacher from the 4-mile ward.

The family recently returned to their home near the 4-mile Tat Oo monastery after being displaced by the ongoing conflict.

On 26 September, the 11-year-old boy as usual went fishing but did not return prompting the  family members to report about his missing.

On the morning hours of 29 September, local residents recovered his body in front of a house in a Muslim village, near the 2nd border guard police battalion, which was captured by the Arakan Army fighters  in August 2024.

His body showed various signs of atrocities including a head injury with sticks and stab wounds in his right abdomen.

The perpetrators remain unidentified and the AA is now conducting an investigation.

A local resident speculated that the individuals responsible for the murder might be a member of the junta-aligned Muslim armed groups from the 4-mile area.

"The 4-mile village also has Muslim youths who were conscripted by the junta forces. A Muslim soldier who escaped without weapons from the 3-mile Thi Ho Aye village was captured by the residents of Ma Gyee Kone village," he added.

Thi Ho Aye village is an old settlement inhabited by Mro people and is located behind the 4-mile ward.

Due to the ongoing conflicts, the  villagers fled  and it turned deserted.

Most of Muslims, Hindus and Arakanese nationals in the 4-mile ward fled to safer places and a few families have returned back.

Photograph: Welcome sign in Maungdaw (Photo by CJ)