Political Prisoner's Home Burned in Village Where He Was Sheltering in Depayin Township

House of a political prisoner in hiding set on fire in a village in Depayin Township

September 1

A group of unidentified individuals set fire to the home of a political prisoner in a village in Depayin Township, Sagaing Region, at around 12:00 a.m. on August 30, according to sources.

The house belonged to a former political prisoner who had come to take refuge in a village in Depayin Township and was earning a living by running a shop. The unidentified group set the house on fire while family members were asleep, according to reports.

"The house that was burned down belongs to a political prisoner. He served 15 years in prison, including 50 lashes and time in Mandalay Obo Prison. He was released on March 2, Peasants' Day, under an amnesty and came here with his family to hide. While they were asleep, someone threw fire and fled," a local resident said.

At the time of the fire, only a one-year-old child and four girls were asleep inside the house, and they had to flee for their lives from the burning home, according to reports.

The fire destroyed over 800,000 kyats in cash, two motorcycles, one bicycle, a refrigerator, and other electrical appliances, with total losses estimated at around 4 million kyats, according to sources.