A 46-year-old man living in Ward-G, Pyigyitagon Township, Mandalay Region, was shot and killed while he was buying betel leaves from a shop at about 7am on January 1, according to local sources.

Aung Zaw Lwin was shot by one of the two unidentified men on a motorbike as he bought from the betel shop on 130th Street between 65th and 66th streets in Ward-G. He died on the spot after a bullet pierced through his head.

“He was gunned down as he was out buying betel leaves in the early morning. He was said to be a member of the ward administrative body. Many of ward administrators in Pyigyitagon Township have been shot. Just recently, an administrator and his man were both shot as they ate Shan noodles. Now, investigation is going on,” said a local resident.

In Mandalay, some members of the ward administrative bodies in Chanmyathazi and Pyigyitagon townships have been shot and killed, local sources reported.