A 21-year-old woman who went missing in Tachileik, eastern Shan State, was found to have been cremated by authorities without her family’s knowledge after relatives attempted to file a missing-person report — an incident that has sparked shock, anger, and widespread suspicion among local residents.

According to family members, the young woman disappeared on February 13 after visiting Sky Club 1688 KTV in Tachileik. A close relative told SHAN she was last reportedly seen leaving the venue with a military officer, although this detail has not been independently verified.

On February 16, three days after her disappearance, a body wrapped in a blanket was discovered on East Circular Road in Tachileik. Unaware of the discovery, the victim’s sister went to Hong Luek Police Station to report her missing. Police then informed her that the body had already been cremated.

“Her sister had been posting about her disappearance for three days. It was only when she went to the station that they told her she had already been cremated. They said her body had been dumped on the circular road, wrapped in a blanket. No family member was able to see her body or say a final goodbye,” a relative said.

The cremation of the unidentified body before confirming the victim’s identity or notifying relatives has drawn sharp criticism locally. Residents have questioned why standard identification procedures were not followed.

A friend of the deceased expressed skepticism about the explanation provided by officials.

“The social welfare group said they cremated her because the body began to decompose while at the hospital. But it feels like a deliberate cover-up. In the past, when unidentified bodies were found, authorities would at least release photos or public notices to locate family members,” the friend said.

Residents say the case reflects what they describe as a broader erosion of the rule of law in Tachileik since the 2021 coup, alleging that disappearances, kidnappings, and violent crimes have increased while accountability remains limited. Many fear the handling of this case will further deepen mistrust toward authorities unless a transparent investigation is conducted.