The Tamu People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Sagaing Region has named two pro-junta militia members who allegedly killed two Indian men in Tamu on the Indian border on Thursday to disprove Myanmar junta’s accusation against the resistance group.
The two men from Moreh, aged 28 and 38, were shot dead near Saw Bwa ward in Tamu, a border town, on Tuesday. Tamu PDF stated that the men were shot by pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members.
However, Major General Zaw Min Tun told Myawaddy TV, a junta-controlled propaganda network, that the Tamu PDF assassinated the two men.
Tamu PDF said the killers were Phoe Sein and Zaw Ye, who were under the command of Maung Lay Win, a militia leader. The junta was lying, attempting to divide the people from the PDF, the resistance group said.
Saw Bwa has a Pyu Saw Htee base, according to Tamu PDF.
Moreh residents burned down a police outpost in Myanmar after they were stopped from bringing back the two bodies on Wednesday.
Zaw Min Tun said the corpses were cremated on Wednesday after no one claimed their bodies.
A Tamu PDF representative told The Irrawaddy that the military council cremated the corpses to hide the evidence.
“The victims were shot three times in the head and their families would be shocked to see their dead bodies. The tension may rise. Everybody knows the regime is lying,” they said.
Tamu PDF urged the parallel civilian National Unity Government to declare the truth in the case to ease relations with India.
“There is aggression from communities in India towards the people of Myanmar now. This can get worse,” the PDF representative said.
The border has been closed since the Indian authorities tightened security, according to a Tamu resident.
“We heard the Indian authorities will shoot us if we enter Moreh,” the resident told The Irrawaddy.
India on Wednesday prevented Tengnoupal District residents from crossing into Myanmar without permits.
Moreh in Manipur State is adjacent to Tamu and the border is the main trading point between India and Myanmar.
