The National League for Democracy (NLD) vice chairman for Mandalay district, Ko Ko Lay, reportedly died of a cerebral ischemia while in hiding in Pindaya, southern Shan state this week, according to the Burma VJ news team, reports DVB.

The politician’s wife, Daw Soe Soe, had been murdered by troops after being taken hostage for interrogation by the military on 12 April 12.

News has just been released that Ko Ko Lay, who suffered from diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, died on 18 April 18 after receiving the news that his wife had been murdered, a source close to the family said.

The military junta issued an arrest warrant for the politician under Section 505 (a) after he had joined anti-military rallies following the coup. He had worked as an NLD vice chairman since 2013. 

His wife appeared to have been tortured to death in an effort to gain information on her husband’s whereabouts.