MAGWAY- After land dispute between two villages had occurred in Yenanchaung Township, Magway Region, in the evening of July 23rd that led to a boat capsizing which led 10 dead and 39 missing, 9 bodies already had been found until yesterday evening, according to the locals.

Now, totaling 19 bodies have been found.

The violence started when about 150 residents of Pha Yae Kyun village went onto the controversial alluvial land via boat as  houses were built on it at Pha Yae Kyun village, Mannmyae village-tract, in Yenangyang Township.

Due to the ensuing riot, the boat capsized, confirmed to have so far killed 10 with 39 still missing as of Wednesday evening.

Ward administrators from Kjan Kai Kyun and Mannmyae village-tracts said that the Yenangyang Land Record Department designated the controversial land as the proposed site for school development area in Pha Yae Kyun village since 2003.

However, a house was built on the proposed site since September, 2018. So, Pha Yae Kyun villagers had complained against it to the General Administrative Department in Yenangyang Township. More houses were reportedly built there on disputed land. Reports about the construction of the houses on the land were submitted to the relevant departments. But the departments couldn’t provide exact decisions on that matter which results in this incident, according to Tun Tun Oo from Pha Yae Kyun village.

“According to the land record, the Kjan Kai Kyun village also owned part of the controversial land. The Pha Yae Kyun villagers not only destroyed the houses but also attacked our villagers. So, 9 villagers from Kjan Kai Gyun village were injured. Among them, one was seriously injured. So, he was sent to Nay Pyi Taw hospital. The Pha Ye Gyun villagers arrived in Kjan Kai Kyun village by only a motorboat for four times. However, the boat overturned due to the overload,” said Than Oo from Kjan Kai Kyun village’s administrator.

The Daily Eleven asked Than Oo from Kjan Kai Kyun village’s administrator about the riot. He said that there was no complication related to the land dispute occurred in two villages. Rescue and search activities were being carried out. No administrative level and police force could say about the case. But, two villages were still peaceful situation.

The members from Police, Army, Fire Brigade and Red-Cross Association were searching for missing villagers until yesterday evening. Likewise, officials from Yenangyan People’s Hospital arrived near Pha Yae Kyun village and they checked and buried the dead bodies.