Pyu-Saw-Htee vigilante group leader Khaw Lay was shot and injured on the night of November 10 by a urban PDF group in Kyaiklat ,Ayeyarwady Region. Soon afterwards 35 locals were arbitrarily rounded up by the Military Council during the next three days.
After Khaw Lay was shot at around 8:00 PM on November 10, the Military Council troops closed the roads, inspected and arrested some pedestrians until the next morning.
Khaw Lay, the Pyu-Saw-Htee leader who was shot, was known as a close disciple of Military Council officer Major Ye Min. The Pyu -Saw-Htee was set up armed and trained by the Military Council ,as a pro-junta vigilante force. It was largely recruited from the ranks of military veterans, and ultra-nationalist monks and members of the armed forces’ political party proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
Ayeyarwady Region Urban Operations PDF officer explained that,” the decision was made to eliminate the Pyu-Sa-Htee leader Khaw Lay, because he was working as an informant who caused the arrest of many people from Kyaiklat, and he also extorted money from Ayeyarwady vessels in the township almost every day.”
Sources close to the police said that Khaw Lay was shot near the See Zein Shin restaurant. He suffered 2 gunshot wounds on his chest, and 1 wound each on his thigh and arm, but did not die thanks to his bulletproof vest. Local residents added that Khaw Lay always wore a bulletproof vest and, and used to threaten us by brandishing his gun.
A local said “ Khaw Lay didn’t die because of the bulletproof vest. Now he is being treated as an inpatient in a hospital.”
“On the night of the shooting, the overnight guest lists were checked, and arrests were made immediately. Some pedestrians and NLD supporters from Myoma neighborhood were also arrested”, a Kyaiklat resident said.
The People’s Defense Force urban operations officer announced on November 11 that the attempt to eliminate Khaw Lay was part of the Nan Htike Aung Operation. The statement also warned that some governmental staff, like Khaw Lay, who are working at the behest of the Military Council and oppressing the public, will also be targeted by urban operations PDF group in the Ayeyarwady Region.
