A junta-appointed ward administrator in southern Rakhine State’s Ann Township was stabbed to death on Thursday, according to local sources.
Chit Zaw Win, also known as Paing Paing, was killed near his home in Ann’s ward 5, a resident of the area told Myanmar Now on Friday.
“It happened between his house and the office of the War Veterans Organisation,” he said, noting that the victim’s home is also just a short distance away from the local police station.
“It looks like he was attacked by two people, as there were 22 knife wounds on both the front and back of his body,” he added.
No group has claimed responsibility for the murder, and it was unclear if it was politically motivated.
“We don’t know if he had any enemies, but he worked as a crime reporter before the coup. He used to demand money from companies in the timber industry, and if they didn’t pay up, he would turn them in to the military,” said the local.
According to another Ann resident, police have been searching the town, where the Western Regional Military Command is based, since the incident.
One local woman also reported seeing a large number of police officers at the town’s general hospital on Thursday afternoon.
“I heard that he was stabbed at around 10am and that the body was sent to the hospital. There were so many police officers there,” she said.
Myanmar Now has attempted to reach police in Ann for further information, but did not receive a response. Attempts to contact the family of the victim have also been unsuccessful.
Locals said they were terrified as there were rumours that the military was planning to search each and every house in the town to find the perpetrators.
Local administrators have been targeted by anti-regime forces in many parts of the country since last year’s coup. They play a key role in keeping the military informed of any suspicious activity.
