Major crimes in Arakan State on pace to fall compared with 2020, totalling 98 through first nine months

By DMG 30 Oct 2021

DMG Newsroom
30 October 2021, Sittwe

A total of 98 major criminal cases were reported in Arakan State through the first nine months of 2021, figures from the state’s Myanmar Police Force (MPF) showed, on pace for a significant reduction compared with last year’s 180 cases.

From January through September, there were 75 murders, 12 rapes, five cases related to the Unlawful Associations Act, three animal thefts, one case of dacoity, one break-in, and one case involving illegal arms possession.

The alleged offenders were arrested and have been charged in 55 of the cases, with the culprits still wanted in the remaining 43 cases, police said.

Of the 55 cases, law enforcement has apprehended suspects in 39 murders, 10 rapes, the three animal thefts, one case related to the Unlawful Associations Act, and the singular cases of break-in and dacoity, Police Major Myo Win from the MPF in Arakan State told DMG.

“Of the 10 kinds of ‘major’ cases, most cases are murder. Most offences were perpetrated as the accused could not control their anger after abusing drugs or drinking alcohol,” he said.

“We are conducting investigations for the remaining cases where the offenders have yet to be found,” he added.

The MPF in Arakan State said it is conducting more “precautionary measures” than in the past in an effort to lower the number of murders and other major cases in the state.

A total of 180 major cases were reported in 2020, with suspects having been charged in 146 of them, while 10 cases were closed and 24 cases remain under investigation, according to MPF in Arakan State.