The father of a 24-year-old woman killed a Burmese Army officer on October 3 in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, when the officer attempted to rape his daughter, said a local source and witness.

The incident occurred in a Khami tribal village called Taung Min in Kan Souk Village Tract in Kyauktaw Township, 80 miles north of Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State.

A source close to the village said the father U Aung Tha Pru, is the secretary of the village council in Taung Min Village.

Sergeant Lin Zaw Htay, private number Ta/23478, from Light Infantry Battalion 539 of the Burmese Army based in Kan Souk Village in Kyauktaw Township, attempted to rape U Aung Tha Pru's 24-year-old daughter on the night of October 3, while he was visiting and staying in the family's home.

Lin Zaw Htay stayed in the house of Aung Tha Pru when he came to the village on official business.

At midnight on October 3, Aung Tha Pru's daughter cried out for help from her bed in the house when Lin Zaw Htay assaulted her while she was sleeping. Aung Tha Pru and many other villagers near the house rushed to the daughter's room and caught him red-handed. Aung Tha Pru attacked the sergeant with a sword, while many other villagers stabbed him with knives.

Lin Zaw Htay died on the spot and his body was taken to the local Burmese Army headquarters the next morning. The army authorities buried Lin Zaw Htay in an army graveyard without performing an autopsy or forensic investigation.

After the incident, Aung Tha Pru and some villagers fled their homes in of fear of army retaliation.

A woman from Kan Souk Village also confirmed over telephone that the incident had occurred, but she refused to provide further details for of fear of reprisal.

There are a number of tribal villages in the area, including Kyin Chaung, Shwe Pan Khaing, Taung Min, Nget Yaung Chaung, Fet Wan Chaung, Thein Chaung, Kin Pi, Kha Maung, The Wa, Kyunt Thaya, and Li Guay. Woman from the area have faced such violations from the Burmese Army since a battalion was stationed in the area, but this is the first time an army officer has been killed by villagers.

In April this year, a Rakhine woman from Paletwa Township in southern Chin State was raped by an army official from LIB 232 based in Sittwe when the battalion was stationed near the frontlines of the Indian border. Authorities are yet to take any action against the officer in the case.