Car-riding criminals active in Yangon

Published on Monday, 05 November 2012 21:47

An overspeed car (black) seen on Pyay Road, Yangon at around 11:30 PM on November 3 (Photo - EMG)

A group of sport-car-riders are carrying out criminal incidents in Yangon during the night sending panic to the city dwellers.

Yangon residents have reported an alarming rise in murders in public, attack on people and hit and run cases during the night and early morning by sport-car-riding gangs.

According to Bahan Township police, a group car riders beat up three staff from the nearby Hninnseegon home for aged poor, who were singing on the pavement on October 23 evening.

On October 28, another group beat up a man at a traffic signal on Sulé Pagoda Road, said Kyauktada Township police.

“After working late that night, he was driving fast to return home. It seemed like he was racing with the gangs,” the victim’s sister said.

At traffic light, five people, holding iron pipes, came out, beat him up and vandalised the car, she added.

Some people vandalized a green Mark II car near San Yitenyein 3 Street at 1am on November 1.

“I heard some noises and saw two cars, which had their registration numbers covered with black sticker, blocked the Mark II. Seven people carrying sticks came out and vandalised the car,” a witness said.

“I heard a girl shouting “No” from inside when someone attempted to open the door. They just pulled out and beat her up. They also hit her friends,” added the witness.  

Six people drove to Inya Lake on October 1 and beat a security staff and several waiters. Three of the attackers have been arrested till Saturday.

Police, meanwhile, interrogated some people in connection with the Bahan Township incident.

Over the past seven months, over 700 car accidents took place. Of them, 300 were hit-and-run cases.

On October 29, three people were murdered in Dagon Seikkan Township and as many in Hmawbe Township.

According to the Yangon Region Police Station, over 120 killing took place so far this year.

Talking about the rising crime incidents, Thein Nyunt, a member of Parliament Committee for Law Enforcement and Peace, criticised awarding minor punishment for such crimes.