The abbot’s car loaded with 8 passengers travelling from the abbey of Rar Hpu new village came under sustained fire at between the 27 mile and Hnan Kye village in Yayphyu Township, Tanintharyi Division. The abbot was killed along with a woman. 6 others including the driver were injured, according to local residents.

It happened on February 6 around 3:00 p.m. when their was shot at while returning from the hospital in Dawei city to Rar Hpu new village in Yayphyu township, according to local residents.

The 60-year-old Rar Hpu new village Buddha Sasana Rakkhita the abbot and 65-year-old Daw Ohn Myint of Tharyarmon village in Rar Hpu village tract died on the spot due to gunshots.

“The abbot was badly hit. There were about 20 shots fired. The driver was seriously injured. The abbot sitting in the front and the woman died in the back of the car,” said a Yayphyu resident.

In addition, 60-year-old driver U Than Htway, 18-year-old Mg Moe Thura Aung, 12- year-old Ma Thin Yanant Hlaing, 23-year-old Ma Nan Moe and two unidentified children also received gunshot wounds. Among the injured, 2 children with minor injuries were taken to Kaleinaung Hospital, and 4 children, including the driver, whowere seriously injured, were taken to Dawei Public Hospital with the help of social relief groups.

According to local residents, the deceased abbot was a native of Maungmeishaung village in Dawei township and was an abbot of Rar Hpu new village.

“ At night, I saw people gathering in Rar Hpu new village. I think the abbot’s body will be brought today. The abbot is from another village, so they are still discussing where to bury him,” said another resident.

It appears that there is no information yet about who is behind the shooting of Rar Hpu new village abbot’s car.

In November 2022, a total of 16 people, including two Buddhist monks and three nuns from Thabarwa Center in Thanlyin, Yangon Region, were shot at on the Myeik-Dawei highway in Palaw Township. In that incident, ‌a monk was killed and three people were injured.