Family demands homicide investigation into suspicious death of Pauktaw student

By Admin 29 Jun 2026

DMG Newsroom

29 June 2026, Pauktaw

The family of a Grade-12 student who died under suspicious circumstances in Pauktaw Township is demanding a formal homicide investigation, accusing local law enforcement authorities of failing to properly investigate the case, family members and local monitors said Monday.

The case involves the death of Maung Paing Lynn Soe, who went missing from his home in Gyitchaung Village on July 19, 2024, after leaving with fellow villager Maung Naing Lin. His body was later found on a sandy bank near the mouth of a nearby creek.

The family alleges that officials from the No. 4 District Station under the Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS) failed to open a criminal investigation and instead classified the death as an accidental drowning despite injuries found on the body.

"It has been nearly two years since my son was taken," said Daw Oo Win Nu, the victim’s mother. "When DLEPS officers came to the scene, they did not properly examine the evidence and pressured our family to bury the body, saying it was a drowning case."

The family said the body showed no clear signs commonly associated with drowning, while examinations revealed two injuries to the head, bruising on the back and waist, and injuries to the thighs and genital area.

The family also said three local youths, identified as Maung Moe Sat Chay, Maung San Khin Maung, and Maung Min Wai Soe, were near the location where the body was found. Two of them are reportedly relatives of the village administrator, whom the family accuses of using local influence to prevent legal action.

The family’s efforts to seek justice have faced repeated obstacles. Other DLEPS stations in Pauktaw Township reportedly refused to open separate investigations, citing the authority of the No. 4 District Station. A complaint submitted to the Township Court also failed to result in further legal action.

Following a DMG investigation published on June 3, senior DLEPS officials visited Gyitchaung Village on June 23 with village elders and the three named youths.

However, the family said the officials did not interview relatives of the victim or allow them to participate in the crime scene reconstruction.

The case highlights challenges facing the United League of Arakan (ULA) and the Arakan Army (AA) as they continue building administrative and judicial systems in areas under their control.

Observers said authorities need to strengthen judicial procedures and ensure transparency in handling serious crimes, including suspected homicide and sexual violence cases.