Four bodies dumped at Hpakant road junction on second day of Myanmar Thingyan festival

Mizzima

On 14 April, the second day of the Thingyan Water Festival, Myanmar military forces reportedly dumped the bodies of four men at the Shwe Myanmar petrol station junction in Ma Shi Ka Htaung ward, Hpakant, in Kachin State.

According to local witnesses, occupants of a grey four-wheel-drive vehicle arriving from the military’s strategic hill base, known as Tat Ma Kone, left the bodies at the intersection around 1:00 pm.

The identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed. However, residents expressed concern that the victims may have been among the more than 30 individuals currently being held at the Hpakant strategic base.

Local sources suggested the men may have been killed during interrogation, with their bodies subsequently abandoned in public to dispose of evidence.

Regarding the identity of the deceased, a local resident stated, “We don’t know the details yet. More than 30 people are currently detained at the Hpakant strategic base. It seems they were killed during interrogation and then dumped here to dispose of the evidence.”

The bodies reportedly remained at the scene until approximately 3:00 pm on this day. During this Thingyan holiday period, intense fighting has persisted in Hpakant, involving exchange of drone attacks and airstrikes carried out by the Naypyidaw military.