PNO militia beat and shoot a young man in Naungtaya

Mekong, September 23 A local youth who was plowing a field for onion cultivation in Hti Rueng village, Pao Ein village tract, Naungtaya sub-township, Hpa-long Township, Shan State South, was allegedly beaten and threatened with gunfire by members of the PNO People's Militia organization on suspicion of drug use, according to local residents. Local residents said that on September 22, around 6 PM, PNO People's Militia member Ta Tin and his group came to Khun Kyaw Htun, a resident of Hti Rueng village, and accused him of drug use, beating him repeatedly with the butt of a gun. During the beating, Khun Kyaw Htun was hit on the head with the butt of a gun and sustained injuries to his hand as he tried to defend himself, it was learned. Local residents also said that three shots were fired at the lower part of his leg. "Instead of questioning him about drug use, they resorted to beating him. This kind of action makes the young people in the village afraid to go out and work. Investigations should be conducted according to the law to determine guilt or innocence, and there should be no bullying with weapons," said a local resident from Hti Rueng village. According to local residents, Khun Kyaw Htun is currently suffering from swelling due to the beatings and is unable to move around normally. Furthermore, local residents said that arrests and beatings of local youths, as well as demands for money, on suspicion of drug use are frequently occurring in the Hpa-long and Naungtaya regions. On May 16, four youths from Ta Ku Myu village were arrested and interrogated by the PNO People's Militia organization. Although no drugs were found, they were beaten on suspicion of drug use and were released after paying money, according to local residents. #MeKongNews #Naungtaya #ShanSouth #Hpalong #PeopleMilitia #Gun