An 18-year-old man was found dead with gunshot wounds outside Nam-ma village in northern Shan State’s Hsipaw Township on Sunday. 

Sai Awng Lu had been missing since January 31. His body was found more than one mile outside of Nam-ma at around 10:30 a.m. on February 2. There were no known suspects in the murder at the time of reporting. 

Local youth organization member Sai Tun told SHAN that the victim had a gunshot injury to his head. 

“I don’t know who killed him,” he said. “He was a guard at a watermelon farm. He didn’t return home for three days, so his family members were so worried about him and went to see him on the farm. Then they found the dead body. They buried the dead body there,” Sai Tun explained. 

Sai Awng Lu was recently married, and is survived by his wife. 

“He was a simple person, he didn’t use drugs,” Nam-ma village local Sai Hla Maung told SHAN, adding that he wondered if Sai Awng Lu had been killed by mistake. 

SHAN called the Hsipaw police station for comment but had received no response at the time of reporting.  

The Nam-ma area is known for controversial coal mining projects, which locals have long opposed. It also sees active troop movement by the Burma Army, Restoration Council of Shan State, Shan State Progress Party and Ta’ang National Liberation Army.