Sangbik, the former chairman of Thanlang Block Peace and Development Council (BPDC) was killed by five men at 7:15 pm on January 13, in Khua Fo village, Thantlang Township in Chin state, western Burma.

Sources said that Sangbik was killed by Thanglang (45) and his brother Cung Thawng, nephew Ni Chung and two friends. They stabbed him and assaulted him with sticks in front of his house.

“Thanglang’s group went to Sangbik’s house during a family dinner and called him out of his house. They pounced on him when he came out. He died on the spot,” said an eyewitness.

“The speculation is that when Sangbik was serving as the chairman of the BPDC he had warned Thanglang to stop brewing and selling alcohol in the village in keeping with the order of the BPDC and a youth group,” said a leader of the Young Myanmar Christian Association (YMCA)

Sangbik’s son Thawng Ceu (22) was also beaten up by the five men. He was knifed and was injured on his leg. He has been hospitalized in Thantlang civil hospital.

“Thawng Ceu intervened when his father was being attacked by the five men. He fought the assailants with a stick, but was seriously injured and taken to hospital,” said an eyewitness.

The postmortem revealed that Sangbik sustained five injuries from sticks on his head and one knife injury on the back. The killers have fled with their families. The police are searching for them.

There are 42 houses in Khua Fo village which is half a day’s journey from Thantlang town. –