Writer’s widow hit with brick during robbery bid

Saturday, 09 October 2010 00:13 Phanida

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The widow of deceased writer Tetkatho (university) Phone Naing remained in hospital tonight with head and other injuries after a would-be robber disguised as a phone linesman assaulted her with a brick, her relatives said.

A man aged around 30 in linesman’s uniform had arrived at around 11 a.m. yesterday at the home of Ni Ni Khin, 75, in Thanlyin Township, Rangoon Division, and asked her for a glass of water, one of her relatives told Mizzima, quoting the widow.

“He [then] hit her on the head with a brick and strangled her … She asked him what he wanted and if he wanted money … The robber replied ‘yes’ so she told him there was 50,000 kyat in her purse … [and to] take it and go away,” the relative said. “Passers-by and motorcycle taxi drivers nearby heard noises from the house made during the struggle … and came to investigate … the robber fled the scene when he heard their voices [approaching].”

Ni Ni Khin was taken to Rangoon General Hospital and admitted to its neurology ward.

“Her condition was critical yesterday [Thursday]. The brick hit her in the temple … A CT scan was taken of her head last night. She is still suffering from pain and bleeding and has 10 stitches to the head wound … There are bruises and injuries to other parts of her body,” the relative said.

However, “the doctor said that she was out of danger now,” he said.

Police were still trying to identify the robber who remained at large. The case was registered under the Penal Code’s section 394 (causing hurt in the commission of a robbery), an officer at Thanlyin police station said.

Residents in Thanlyin usually hire private linesman to fix their telephones, which are frequently out of order as government workers are available only after a long waiting period.