NAUNGPAIN- Armed groups from the Northern Alliance Army torched seven vehicles including cargo trucks near Namtkut village, in Kutkai Township on Lashio-Muse Highway in northern Shan State around 8pm on September 3rd, according to witnesses.

“We were leaving to Mandalay. On arrival at Namtkut, they[armed groups] stopped the vehicles including trucks and blocked the road. They didn’t allow light from the cars too. Later, they seized our phones, money and ordered us (drivers) to sit together. About five persons from armed groups burnt the vehicles down around 7pm on September 3rd,” said Thura, one of the drivers.

“Me and another driver remained near the burnt cars. The remaining drivers fled to safer places. I bought my car with hire purchase system. I had paid only Ks 3 million for a car. I tried extinguishing the fire with hopes of possibly salvaging some parts. But my car was completely burnt down,” said Thura.

As their vehicles were razed, drivers and passengers, including women and children, stayed overnight in the place of the incident.

They arrived in Kutkai the next morning with the help of the volunteer vehicles.

“We brought people from Namtkut village in the morning. We found that seven vehicles including three trucks were torched. Later, we will send the passengers and drivers to the City Hall. From there, we are going to drive them to their designated places,” said Ko Myo from local civic and social organization in Hsibaw Township.

For CSOs, it is very difficult to bring the victims from the burnt cars at night. So, they had to bring the passengers and drivers in the morning.