Muslim villager shot and wounded in Buthidaung Twsp

By DMG 20 Oct 2022

DMG Newsroom
20 October 2022, Buthidaung 

A man from U Hla Pe Village in Arakan State’s Buthidaung Township was shot and wounded at about 8 p.m. on October 19, and is currently receiving treatment at Buthidaung Hospital, according to local villagers. 

The victim has been identified as 42-year-old U Phwayas, who was shot by a group of men as he was returning home from Kyaukseik Village, about one mile from his village. 

“He [U Phwayas] went to Kyaukseik Village, about a 20-minute walk from our village, and was shot on his way back,” said a villager who did not want to be named for security reasons. “Five Muslim men came up to him and one of them shot him with a pistol. He has a butcher’s licence in the village.” 

U Phwayas sustained a bullet wound to his right shoulder and is currently receiving medical treatment at Buthidaung Hospital. 

Members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) are reportedly active near villages such as U Hla Pe and neighbouring Kyaukseik and Atwin Hngetthae. Another resident suggested that the assailants may be ARSA-affiliated. 

“They [ARSA] members are active near the village and threaten local people not to have links with other organisations. They have said local people will be killed if they support other organisations. We are worried about our safety due to their threat,” the resident added. 

When DMG phoned U Kyan Aye, the administrator of Buthidaung Township, seeking comment on the matter, he said he was attending a meeting. 

Arakan Daily, a media outfit run by the Arakan State military council, reported on its Facebook page that ARSA was responsible for the attack. ARSA members opened fire on U Phwayas at an exit of Kyaukseik Village on Wednesday night, Arakan Daily said. 

ARSA members are alleged to have shot dead a 100-household head in Buthidaung Township’s Kanpyin Village on October 6.