Students worried about recent robberies near Sittwe University

15 Feb 2023

DMG Newsroom
15 February 2023, Sittwe

University students say they are worried about a recent spate of robberies and looting targeting students near Sittwe University.

Two correspondent students who returned from paying school fees at Sittwe University were threatened by three men with swords on the road near the university and robbed of their belongings at about 1 p.m. on February 12, said one of the student victims.

“When I, together with my friend, paid school fees and were returning on a motorbike, three men stood in front of me near Bumay Village, held a knife to my stomach, and took my motorbike and money,” Ko Lin Lin Maung, the correspondent student, told DMG.

The two university students were reportedly robbed of three mobile phones, one motorbike and over K100,000 in cash, with the robbery reported to the Mingan police station.

The Sittwe University Students Union announced on February 10 that there were two robberies while students were riding in a taxi near Sittwe University during the academic year 2022-2023.

Ko Lin Lin Maung said university students are currently feeling anxious due to the incidents, and want the relevant officials to address their security concerns.

“Some students are more worried about their safety when they have to go alone during practical work. As the robbers belong to a group of people, they are more worried about going to school. I would like to ask the concerned authorities to help as much as possible to prevent further robberies,” he added.

The Sittwe University Students Union has urged any victims of robberies to take note of the appearance of their assailants and any affiliated vehicles, including details such as licence plate numbers.

“Since we are a student union, we will take effective action against the perpetrators. As a student union, we would also like to say that students should be cautious,” said Ko Min Ko Aung, chairman of Sittwe University Students Union.

“We have a complaint about this robbery [of the commuter students]. We filed a complaint with the relevant police station and opened a case. Currently, the complaint to us is a case of robbery. If this happens again, you can report it to us immediately,” said the head of the Student Affairs Department at Sittwe University, U Kyaw Naing Oo.

Theft, robberies and burglaries are frequently reported in Sittwe beyond the bounds of campus as well

A local man wrote on his Facebook page that when he was riding a motorcycle along Strand Road from the Sittwe Hotel on February 14, he was stopped by two people who attempted to steal his belongings, but he managed to escape.