Three village security personnel face lawsuits for detaining police

By Thet Naing 22 May 2019

Thet Naing | DMG

May 22, Sittwe

Village security personnel detained a security police officer for opening fire in a village fairground at an event held for a monk’s funeral in Chaung Wa village, Kyauk Phyu Township, on March 31.

On May 21, head of Min Pyin police station filed a complaint against three village security officers, who tied a policeman’s hands behind his back, at the Kyauk Phyu Myoma police station.

“All three men have been charged for intentionally inflicting physical pain on a public servant in addition to assault and wrongful confinement to deter a public servant. Their indictment is not fair because they committed these actions from their point of view,” said Ko Aung Tun Linn, an official of Chaung Wa village and one of the villagers who have been charged.

“The person who arrived in the fairground for security opened fire in a crowded area. His actions might have killed people,” he added.

The DMG tried many times to contact the head of the Kyauk Phyu Myoma police station for comment about the lawsuit, but could not reach any officials.

Authorities from the village said that the police were temporarily prohibited from shooting guns in the fairground under the influence, but sub-inspector Aung Zaw Moe, head of the Min Pyin police station, said that the police constable did not open fire and the rifle discharged accidently when he slipped and fell.

In the wake of this incident and the legal actions against the village security members, a township level investigation committee has been formed to report the real situation to the authorities on the state level, said U Soe Moe Kyaw, administrator for Kyauk Phyu Township, who is also the leader of the committee.

Local residents wanted to settle the case peacefully, but they will proceed with a trial because the villagers have been charged under four sections, authorities from Chaung Wa village said.