Residents in Mandalay’s Natogyi Township suspect junta forces are behind the recent discovery of mutilated bodies in their district.

It was reported that three locals from Minywa Sanpya Village, Natogyi Township, Mandalay Region were found dead on 4 January.

“Only when we found the dumped bodies, we knew that our villagers were killed. It is assumed that the Military Council killed them at night after they were arrested on 3 January. The bodies were dumped at the Gwaypinyoe road intersection this morning (4 January),” said a resident.

He claimed that the dead bodies were found with the signs of torture.

The victims of the arrest and murder by the junta soldiers were U Nyein (45), Ko Zaw Htway (25), and Ko Thaung Tan (27) from Minywa Sanpya Village.

“We don’t know why they were arrested. When we found the bodies this morning, there were wounds of knife stabbing and cutting. They were even shot with guns,” said another local resident.

This was not the first time this has happened in the area. On 6 December, there was also an incident where the Military Council arrested and killed six locals, including four National League for Democracy (NLD) party members from Minywa Sanpya Village and the junta also dumped the dead bodies by the roadside.