A shoot-out at a Myawaddy gambling den has left two hospitalised with bullet wounds.

Police raided the slot machine parlour in the Karen State border town on Tuesday evening. Onlookers say they heard a total of six gunshots ring out after police surged into the darkened cabin.

Speaking from Mandalay General Hospital, bystander Ko Zaw said he was with his son when he was hit by a stray bullet.

“We went out to grab dinner with my son and we stopped at a shop along the way because my son wanted some snacks. We saw a scuffle erupt down the road and heard two gunshots— ‘Bang! Bang!’”

“I wasn’t aware that I had been shot as I’ve never had that experience and I continued gawking for a while,” said Ko Zaw.

“Then I felt this numbing pain in by leg and decided to drive away but found myself unable to drive the bike so I got my wife to drive me to the hospital. Only when I got to the hospital did I realise I had been shot and was bleeding.”

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A police superintendent was also injured as officers exchanged fire with unknown assailants inside the street-side shop.

Bullet holes remain in the walls of the shed where the illegal operation was run.

Police admitted to making no arrests, despite seizing five gambling machines.