A Burmese Army commander killed a soldier for being critical of his unseemly and abusive behaviour, while they were traveling to the frontline, said a relative of the victim.

The murdered soldier was identified as U Thein Shwe, a native of Yho Ta Yoke Village in Ponna Kyunt Township in Arakan State.

The killing occurred when a platoon of the Light Infantry Battalion 550 of the Burmese Army based in Ponna Kyunt travelled to the frontlines of the Indian border under the leadership of Lt. Colonel Aye Naing in early August.

"On the way to the Indian border, the commander used villagers as porters and forced women in some villages to have sex with him. U Thein Shwe criticized the commander's behaviour. Because of it, the commander ordered some other soldiers to beat him to death," the relative said.

When U Thein Shwe lost consciousness following the beating, Lt. Colonel Aye Naing reportedly pulled out his pistol and shot him.

"After the murder, the commander reported to the higher military authorities that U Thein Shwe deserted the army with his gun and fled to the Indian border to join an insurgent group. At the same time, the commander forced 10 soldiers, who were involved in the killing, to drink consecrated water to bind their loyalty to him in the case," the relative said.

Despite efforts at cover up, news of the killing has been spreading among army families since the platoon returned to their battalion base in Ponna Kyunt, 18 miles north of Sittwe, the state capital.

"Some soldiers are angry with the murder of U Thein Shwe, so they told their wives and friends about the killing. Now the news is spreading among the people," he added.

Commander Aye Naing also drove U Thein Shwe's widow and two-year-old daughter out of their family quarters in the battalion compound. His widow, 21-year-old Ma Htay Htay Win, who is pregnant, left the battalion base for her home village of Yho Ta Yoke.

According to the source, the family of the victim has consulted some lawyers about filing a complaint with higher military authorities in Naypyidaw for justice. However, most family members are frightened because the commander has the power to retaliate at anytime if they do file a complaint against him.