Family of Muslim man shot dead by police compensated with K500,000

By DMG 06 Sep 2022

DMG Newsroom
6 September 2022, Sittwe 

Family members of a Muslim man who was shot dead by a police officer at a security checkpoint near Bumay village in Arakan State’s Sittwe Township on September 4 have reportedly been compensated with K500,000. 

“The police battalion commander gave K500,000 to family members of the victim through village officials as compensation. Police officials also pledged to provide us as much as they can,” a family member told DMG. 

According to the victim’s family, the police battalion commander said that the policeman who fatally shot the young man will be prosecuted. 

“We do not believe what they say. Is a human life worth only K500,000? It is totally unfair,” a family member said. 

Zawmirua Husawnat, a 20-year-old motorcycle taxi driver from Darpaing village in Sittwe Township, was shot dead at a security checkpoint in front of Police Battalion No. 36 on September 4. 

Muslims from Letthamar, Darpaing, Thetkelpyin, Bawdupha, Ohntawyi and Palinpyin villages are worried about their safety following the incident, a community elder from Letthamar village told DMG. 

“Police check for recommendation letters and ID cards at the security checkpoint. A Muslim man was shot dead on September 4. I am worried a similar incident will occur in the future,” the elder said. 

Locals from Muslim villages have to travel the Bumay-Thetkelpyin route to buy commodities in Sittwe. 

“We rely on this road [the Bumay-Thetkelpyin route] even for our health matters. If we want to go to Sittwe, we must pass this police battalion. Locals are reluctant to pass this route following the shooting,” said a resident of Darpaing village. 

Further complicating matters, some Muslims do not speak Arakanese or Burmese, said a resident of Thetkelpyin village, adding that the government needs to tackle these issues. 

“Police checked for a recommendation letter from the man on his way between Bumay and Darpaing villages, and shot him dead as the man was unable to show a letter. There are many Muslims who do not speak Burmese like him, and it is more difficult for them. Many more local residents are worried about this incident,” he said. 

DMG was unable to obtain comment from a spokesman for the Arakan State military council regarding the incident. 

A police officer who did not want to be named said the shooting occured because the policeman had an argument with the deceased Muslim and another man while checking for their papers.