A policeman was injured in a violent melee in Kachin State on Monday when an armed mob attacked law enforcement officers to break free a suspect caught with a stash of drugs in a forest.
“The police officers chased after the drug suspect, Aung Kyaw Win, who ran into the woods near the village of Mongnawng, where they caught him in possession of the drugs,” said Indawgyi police sergeant Thiha Newin. “Shortly after, a group of more than 20 men armed with swords and clubs attacked them.
“As the attackers were greater in numbers than the police, and they were familiar with the terrain, they managed to escape with the suspect. Police Lt-Col Aung Naing Oo suffered a broken wrist, as well as cuts and bruises across his body.
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“The mob also snatched Officer Aung Naing Oo’s revolver. He is currently being treated for serious wounds at Mohnyin township hospital.”
Despite the fracas, police managed to hold on to the drugs it had seized from the suspect – 117.4 grams of heroin, 2,985 amphetamine pills and 1.7 million kyat (US$1,400) in cash.
Aung Kyaw Win and the unknown assailants who rescued him are now wanted on charges of drugs, disturbing civil servants on duty, and causing harm to civil servants, as well as a charge under the Weapons Act for stealing the police officer’s gun.
