Soldiers from a local militia arrested and beat a man in northern Shan State’s Namkham Township this week, the victim’s relatives said. 

The Pangsay People’s Militia Force (PMF) reportedly handcuffed Nyi Maung San, who is in his 50s, at his house in Pauk Nay ward at around 6:00 p.m. on September 8. He was then beaten. 

Nyi Maung San has since been receiving medical treatment for his injuries with specialists at Namkham hospital. 

His daughter, Khin Kyi, said that her father did not have a dispute with the PMF. However, a friend of his had borrowed money from him and left his motorbike as collateral. Nyi Maung San was later informed by the PMF soldiers that the bike had been stolen from them by someone else. 

“Actually, my father helped his friend by lending him money. My father didn’t know the motorbike was a stolen bike. That’s why my father lent his money and received the motorbike,” Khin Kyi, told SHAN. 

She added that this case could have been solved through the police, but the PMF soldiers took the law into their own hands and assaulted Nyi Maung San. 

“They beat my father’s whole body. Brown marks can be seen on my father’s body. They beat him on the head and thighs. My father told me that he felt dizzy,” Khin Kyi explained. 

The PMF reportedly called Nyi Maung San’s family members and demanded 150,000 kyat in order to let him go after he had been beaten. The relatives borrowed money to secure his release. 

“Pangsay PMF soldiers released my father after my sister-in-law paid money to them,” Khin Kyi said. 

Nyi Maung San has opened a file against the PMF at the Namkham police station, accusing them of torture, illegal arrest, threats and extortion. His family members have also reported the case to local parliamentarians, political parties, the and the Shan and Ta’ang literature and culture associations.

Police officers did not respond to SHAN’s calls for comment on the case. 

Locals in northern Shan State told SHAN that they fear the government-backed PMFs, because the soldiers carry out abuses with impunity; at least six civilians in the area have been assaulted by militia members so far this year. 

“Civilians are afraid of PMF soldiers in Namkham and Muse area,” Namkham local Sai Myo, said. “They display their weapons when they travel downtown. They frequently beat civilians if they are not satisfied with a particular person. The respective authorities do not take action against them.”