Police beats man to death

by Phanida
Tuesday, 13 October 2009 12:19

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A father, who dropped into the North Okkalapa Township police station to inquire about his detained son, was beaten to death by the police, his family said.

Kyawt Maung (56) from No. 2 Ward went to the police station to find out about his son, who was being held in the Rangoon Division, North Okkalapa Township police station. Police private Pan Thee and former 100-households head of Ward level Peace and Development Council, Win Cho beat him to death on October 8 near the Thumalar junction, his family said.

Kyawt Maung ran a school bus business. His son Thet Oo Maung used to take part in the Tuesday prayer meeting campaign to free the opposition leader.

“The doctor said my father died of a blood clot in his brain. He was admitted to North Okkalapa hospital on October 8 at about 10 p.m. The doctor referred him to the Rangoon General Hospital, Brain and Nervous System Ward. But he died at 6:45 a.m. before being sent to the referral hospital, a close relative told Mizzima.

The accused Win Cho has been arrested by the North Okkalapa police station, but police private Pan Thee is still at large.

An eyewitness close to the bereaved family said, “Win Cho and the policeman handcuffed him when he reached Thumalar junction. Kyawt Maung asked them why he was being arrested. But the policeman hit him on his mouth and he fell down. Then the policeman stomped on his neck and kicked him in the stomach after which he fell unconscious. Then they grabbed him by his hair and banged his head on the asphalt road”.

A family member, who was also the Chairman of the ‘Self-reliance road maintenance Committee’, filed a murder case against the policeman and Win Cho in the North Okkalapa police station.

An inquest was conducted on the body of Kyawt Maung. He will be cremated at Ye Way cemetery today, the bereaved family said.

The police arrested Thet Oo Maung in connection with the case of 9th grade students from a North Okkalapa High School having a scuffle and altercation in front of North Okkalapa Myint Myat tea shop.

Kyawth Maung is survived by his wife, son and two daughters.