Police fired rubber bullets at the angry crowds of people to disperse after they had gathered in front of a bakery in Dagon Seikkan Township, Yangon Region, where the business owner was allegedly torturing his child workers, from November 20 morning till 1 am on November 21.  

Receiving information on the night of November 19, police raided and searched the house in Ward-87 in Dagon Seikkan Township where the house owner was running Chinese dumplings and cakes. 

“Police and officials went to the scene and 18 workers were taken outside. According to questioning, the younger brother of the business owner scolded and slapped a 19-year-old worker as he delayed in peeling onions. He is not seriously hurt. But due to the complaint, action was taken in accord with the law. When we checked the business, it did have a license from the YCDC (Yangon City Development Committee. So, we have opened a case against the business in line with the YCDC law,” said a high-ranking officer from Myanmar Police Force. 

He said unlike the rumours spreading, the business owner was not a Chinese citizen. But he is a Chinese descendent born and brought up in Myanmar, he said’

There were only a few child workers and they had been handed over to their parents, the officer added. 

The crowds formed after some residents in the neighbourhood entered the building for search on November 20 morning and demanded again their search later at night. 

Some members of the crowd came in chaos turning over the cars in front of the bakery, stoning the building and forcibly entering it. So the police had to fire rubber bullets to disperse the mob. 

Till 1 am on November 21, about 200 police troops were deployed near and around the building. Some members of the crowd were also found to be carrying sticks and bricks. 

In connection with the case, Yangon Region MP Zin Min Htwe for Dagon Seikkan Township Constituency (2) posted details about the incident on his Facebook page at 9 pm on November 20. 

“Although authorities concerned searched the building in response to the rumour but nothing was found. People are urged to stay calm at home as detailed investigation will be made and action will be taken if the evidence is true. Effective action will be taken against those who spread fake news to cause mobs. Those who stoned the building and destroyed the cars will also face legal action,” he wrote.  

The business owner is not a Chinese citizen as described in the rumour outside. He is a Buddhist Chinese descendent born in Myanmar. Among the workers were also some children who had been questioned and sent to their parents.