Taungup Police Chief’s Fatal Plunge down Well Was an Accident: Officials

By Min Aung Khine 26 November 2018

SITTWE—The head of Taungup Township Police Station in Rakhine State died after accidentally falling down a well inside the compound of the police station on Sunday, police officials said, denying rumors that the officer took his own life.

Police Captain Thein Tun Naing’s death was entirely accidental, according to Police Sub-Lieutenant Toe Zaw Aung, who is based at the station. “He accidentally fell down the well. He was not wearing his uniform at the time of the accident. He was in plain clothes. We sent his body to the hospital,” he told The Irrawaddy.

Pol Capt. Thein Tun Naing was transferred to Taungup Police Station some eight months ago. Police officials denied rumors among the local population that the late police captain was undergoing an internal investigation.

“We hadn’t seen him, so we searched for him at around 7 a.m. [on Sunday]. We found his slippers near the well. So we went down the well and found his body, which was sent to the hospital. The hospital confirmed that he drowned. The rumors are not true,” said Police Lieutenant Chit Tun, the deputy head of the station.

Police have opened an investigation into Pol Capt. Thein Tun Naing’s death.

Rakhine State Police commander Police Colonel Kyi Lin visited Taungup Township recently. But the visit was a routine trip to inspect operations at the police station, Taungup police officials said.

On Oct. 11, a police constable committed suicide by shooting himself at the hostel of Pauktaw Police Station in Rakhine State.