July 15th, 2021
A 51-year-old woman was raped and murdered by the military council’s troops in Numlang village in Moemauk Township in Kachin State on July 14th.
A local who declined to be named: “She alone went to the farm, carrying paddy seeds. She did not arrive at the farm where her husband was present. Her husband was unable to phone her. Her husband went to the village as she did not come. Her husband searched her after asking for permission from the 438-Battalion and 616-Battalion. Her basket was left in the hut near the road heading to their farm. She was raped and stabbed after being taken to the field.”
Three soldiers from the Military Division-88 stationed at 616-Battalion near Numlang village deserted from the army on July 14th. But the army arrested them in Naungkwan.
The army informed the family of victim as the victim’s mobile phone was seized from three deserters.
A local said: “Her cloth was stuffed into her mouth near the farm. I found her naked body. Four stab wounds to her chest and one wound to her right armpit were found.”
Another local who declined to be named said: “The place where the incident took place is around two miles from 616- Battalion and around two miles from Numlang village. It is assumed that the crime was committed by three soldiers who took the victim’s mobile phone.”
A local said: “No one dare to go to that place. The army has stationed there. But it is difficult to say who committed the crime as there is no witness.
The body of the victim was sent to mortuary in Bhamo. The police are preparing for the investigation. The victim has husband and a son.
Numlang village is the place where there was intense fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the army. over two months ago.
Currently, the army has deployed its troops in Myothit, Konelaw, Numlang and Dawphoneyan in order to retake a control of the strategic Alaw Burn hilltop base captured by the KIA.
Sent by the KNG.