Two internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Nhamar Sar Yit Village, Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region, were fatally shot by the military on November 15 after failing to stop their motorcycle at a military checkpoint. Following the shooting, the junta alleged they had discovered a hand grenade at the scene and labeled the victims as members of the People’s Defense Force (PDF), according to local sources.
The incident occurred at 9:00 AM in front of Basic Education School No. 3 in Shwebo, where soldiers had set up a roadblock. When the two civilians refused to stop their motorcycle, the military pursued and opened fire, eventually killing both near Thitagu Road. The military later claimed to have found a hand grenade and other items, but locals dispute this narrative, describing the victims as displaced civilians who had been renting a home in town after fleeing conflict in their village.
“They were ordinary civilians, just IDPs trying to survive. The military killed them and then fabricated a story about finding explosives to justify their actions,” said a resident of Shwebo. “The shooting also injured two men and a child who were passing by on foot.”
Such incidents highlight ongoing violence and intimidation tactics employed by the military against displaced populations and civilians in conflict zones across Myanmar.
