Five members of a family, including three children, were found murdered in Shwe Bon Thar Village in Kawa Township, according to local residents.

The victims had been living in a farm hut outside the village. Locals said the killings are believed to have taken place on June 1, but the bodies were not discovered until June 3.

A resident said the victims were members of the family of a man identified as U Aye Soe from Shwe Bon Thar Village. A four-year-old girl was initially found alive with serious head injuries but later died after being taken to hospital.

The deceased included a 57-year-old woman, a 38-year-old woman, an 11-year-old boy, and two girls aged eight and four. The 38-year-old woman and the three children were reportedly mother and children. Locals said the family had only recently moved to the village for the children’s education.

The two older children had reportedly just begun attending the local branch middle school in Shwe Bon Thar Village and had attended classes for only one day.

Authorities have detained several suspects in connection with the killings and are continuing investigations, according to reports.

The victims were cremated at the village cemetery on June 4.