At least six people, including a 15-year-old boy, were killed in the regime’s March 21 crackdown on Mandalay, according to locals and members of the victims’ families.
The junta’s armed forces carried out deadly nighttime raids in at least two townships in the city, shooting at locals and volunteers taking charge of the nightly watch over these areas. They also fatally shot at least one person in broad daylight in another township.
At least 20 people with bullet wounds have been brought to a local humanitarian charity clinic following Sunday night’s violence by the regime; some require operations in order to survive, a doctor from the clinic told Myanmar Now.
The actual number of the casualties from the day could continue to grow as further details emerge, and if those wounded are unable to obtain lifesaving treatment.
These are the reports from three townships that Myanmar Now was able to confirm at the time of publication.
Chanmyathazi Township
On Sunday afternoon, a man in his 50s was killed in Chanmyathazi Township when armed forces fired live ammunition at locals who tried to stop police and soldiers from removing sandbags and makeshift barricades on a local street.
The structures are being made across the country to slow down troops’ advances as they break up demonstrations against the February 1 military coup.
The victim was identified as Tut Kyi, a known street vendor in the area, according to Mandalay locals.
At least six other people, most of whom were in their 20s, were also injured in the incident, according to a doctor from a local humanitarian clinic.
Chanayethazan Township
Fifteen-year-old Zaw Myo Htet, a waiter in a local tea shop, was shot in the head when he exited the shop amid the sound of gunfire on Sunday night in Chanayethazan Township, north of Chanmyathazi. It is believed that at the time of his death, he was looking around to see what was unfolding outside.
“He died in front of the shop, curled up. What did my son do wrong? He was not even a protester!” Hla Hla Yee, the boy’s mother said, weeping. “As my son was killed in such a violent death, the military dictators must fall!”
Zaw Myo Htet was a native of Natalin Township in Bago Region. He had started working in the tea shop just two days before his death.
“He said he was coming back in [April] to bring me his salary and now this happened,” Hla Hla Yee said.
A funeral for the boy was held at 10:00am on Monday, and was followed by a cremation.
Another person who was shot dead by the junta’s armed forces in Chanayethazan on Sunday night was 43-year-old Phyo Mauk Maung. He was active as a neighbourhood night watchman and as a volunteer with a local charity group.
He was shot in the leg after he came outside after hearing someone shout for help amid heavy gunfire in the area, according to a local who lives in the same ward.
By Monday morning, he had bled to death, the local said.
Phyo Mauk Maung’s family members cremated his body at 11:00am on Monday at the Aye Yeik Nyein cemetery, a local who went to the funeral told Myanmar Now.
A resident of Chanayethazan Township said he saw members of the armed forces dragging an injured man away near the intersection of 33rd and 86th streets.
He said the man was begging to be sent to a hospital.
“I think [the military] was trying to clear out night watchmen and barriers made by protesters. I heard the sound of gunfire starting from 10:30pm [on Sunday],” the resident said. “We are terrified whenever we hear this sound. We have to switch off all of the lights and hide inside our own houses, being silent.”
Pyigyitagon Township
In Pyigyitagon, south of Chanmyathazi, there were at least three casualties on Sunday night.
Twenty-six-year-old Phyo Wai Tun was shot and killed by the junta’s armed forces at the intersection of 56th and 122nd streets, according to one of his family members.
The bullet went directly through his abdomen. He died at the scene, the relative said.
In the same township, 44-year-old night watchman Zaw Myo Oo was shot in the neck by plainclothes police or soldiers at around 11:30pm, according to locals and his younger sister.
“He died in our arms. The residents in our ward were carrying his body [back from the scene] but the military’s armed forces were firing shots and they took his body away,” his sister, Su Su Htwe said. “I told the residents to give up [trying to bring back his body]. My brother’s death is already enough and we can’t let more people die.”
Min Thu Aung, 39, was also fatally shot that night, on Mingyi Yannaung Street.
Locals said he was shot in the chest and later died of his injuries. His family members reportedly had to hide his body out of fear it would be taken away by soldiers; they had him cremated on Monday morning.
At the time of reporting, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners estimated that at least 250 people had been killed by the coup regime nationwide since they took power on February 1.
