According to a villager, the army lost a G-3 gun in the river near the village of Hnawte, eight miles from Matupi, and the second capital of Chin Sate.

A villager told Khonumthung News: “The army ordered us to search for the gun until we find it. I don’t know how long we have to search. We are continuing to search as ordered because we are afraid of them.”

The army not only ordered villagers of Hnawte (A), (B), (C) villages to search for the gun near the river but also villagers of Tin Lawng and Kho Bal.

A villager said that one section of the Light Infantry Battalion (140) is regularly stationed there and they have been forcing villagers to search for the lost gun. It is very difficult to search because the water level in the river is high.

“As it is the rainy season the water can sweep away not only a gun but also big stones. It is just harassing the people” said one of the villagers searching for the gun.

The army has ordered at least 10 to 20 villagers at a time to search for the gun daily.

It is learnt that the gun was lost by the army team of Captain Aung Kyaw during the first week of July. -KNG