Police in Shan State say they have apprehended two of the men responsible for freeing a man from a prison truck in Taunggyi after they held up the convoy at gunpoint.

On 15 June, four men stopped the vehicle and threatened police officers with small arms, before escaping with prisoner Khun Nan, 23. The inmate had been making an appearance on drugs charges at Taunggyi district court, and was being transported back to Yawnghwe prison.

Pol-Col San Lwin of Shan state police told DVB that two of the suspects were stopped the following day at a road checkpoint, travelling in the same vehicle they used in the getaway.

“We have detained two of the four men. Following the incident on 15 June, the police deployed checkpoints on the road leading to Taunggyi. At around 1am on 16 June they identified the vehicle used in the prisoner breakout as it was travelling towards the town of Aungban,” said the officer.

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“When prompted to stop at the checkpoint, the driver attempted to turn around and drive off. The vehicle then went off the road into a ditch. One of the passengers in the car was detained and another escaped. Under interrogation the detained suspect, 41-year-old Khun Chit Maung, identified the accomplice who managed to escape as Paw Lu,” said Pol-Col San Lwin.

“Based on information provided by Khun Chit Maung, the police were able to arrest another suspect in the group, named Maung Nan, at around 4am on 18 June in the village of Lonpu in [Karenni State]’s Demoso.”

The official said that the men have identified themselves as civilians from Demoso, and have not claimed to be members of any armed group.

The pair are still being interviewed, and are yet to be charged, he added.