By Hlaing / MPA
Residents and social workers report a troubling increase in violent crimes, including murders, in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State.
On Tuesday morning, around 7:30 a.m., the body of an unidentified woman was found wrapped in plastic and abandoned at a garbage site near No. 6 Basic Education High School on Sum Pra Bum Road in In Jang Dong Ward.
A 25-year-old local woman told MPA, “The face was already disfigured. The entire body was wrapped in plastic, tied with ropes, and discarded in the trash. Later, it was taken to Myitkyina General Hospital.”
The victim, a 45-year-old woman, showed multiple signs of physical assault. The military junta’s police force transported her body to the hospital’s morgue.
Just days earlier, on Feb.28, 2025, at around 7:30 p.m., a 25-year-old woman was fatally stabbed in Myitkyina’s Sitarpu Ward.
A man from Aung Nan Ward expressed frustration, saying, “The police are not taking responsibility. Gambling dens are increasing daily, the internet is still cut off, and job opportunities are shrinking. People are turning to murder and robbery for easy money.”
Previously, robberies in Myitkyina were mostly limited to less-populated areas. However, residents now report a rise in such crimes even in busy neighborhoods.
On Feb.17, a person was attacked with a sharp weapon during a motorcycle robbery near the Computer University in southern Shan Su Ward.
Similarly, on Feb.14, a resident was fatally stabbed in Le Kone Ward.
A local woman warned, “People are being openly robbed at knifepoint on the streets. Areas like Jar Mai Kaung, Kyet Paung Chan, and Kyun Pin Taw have become dangerous. In unoccupied homes, valuable items are being stolen.”
“Myitkyina has been deteriorating for a long time. Sometimes, gangs commit these crimes together.”
On Jan.3, a man was robbed of his motorcycle at knifepoint in Jar Mai Kaung Ward.
A Myitkyina resident commented, “Young people are increasingly addicted to drugs, and gambling dens are multiplying. The military doesn’t seem to care, and the police act like they don’t know what’s happening. Things will only get worse.”
According to a social worker, since the beginning of 2025, Myitkyina has seen a sharp rise in robberies and two confirmed murders.
Following the military coup, the rule of law in Myitkyina has collapsed, with frequent incidents of murder, robbery, and theft. The lack of effective action has drawn mounting criticism from residents.
