A 26 year-old Mandalay resident, Ko Zaw Myo, was shot dead while assisting anti-coup student protesters running from riot police and soldiers in his neighborhood on Friday.
Together with some other local residents, he attempted to block a road to hinder security forces loyal to the military regime as they hunted down engineering student protesters, a neighbor said.
Police and military troops fired shots, used tear gas, and stun grenades against the protesters and residents in the latest crackdown. Ko Zaw Myo was shot in the neck and died from his gunshot wound despite attempts by rescue workers to save his life. He leaves behind his pregnant wife and a son.
Residents’ houses were also fired upon with guns and slingshots as security forces searched for protesters. Some motor vehicles were vandalized, locals said.
Locals also reported that the troops broke into a house in Maha Aung Myay Township, Mandalay region, and took cash and gold stored in a closet.
A couple of protesters were also reportedly arrested in Mandalay. But details weren’t available at the time of reporting.
The regime’s escalated killing of protesters didn’t deter the people of Myanmar who continued to take to the streets and demonstrate against the junta. Local residents in Mandalay, Monywa, Myingyan, Yangon—cities which saw bloodshed recently—also staged mass protests on Friday, voicing their rejection of the military regime which overthrew the elected government.
In Yangon, two protesters in Mayangone Township were arrested during a protest crackdown on Friday afternoon. Witnesses said riot police and soldiers kicked and beat the detainees before taking them into a military vehicle.
In Insein Township, riot police and soldiers set roadblocks on fire on a flyover on Friday, after protesters erected them to keep security forces away.
People continue to bang pots and pans at 8 p.m., another form of protest that has continued every single night since a few days after the Feb. 1 coup.
After banging pots, protesters shout, “We don’t want a military government,” “We must win,” and “Who is our president? U Win Myint, U Win Myint.” They then sing a revolution song loudly together with their neighbors.
At least 54 people have been shot dead and more than a hundred individuals have been injured in different cities in brutal crackdowns of riot police and soldiers on anti-coup protests.
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