Picture : Twitter / ANI
The police forces cracked down on protesters by arresting over 100 demonstrators and firing live rounds and riot control weapons that led to serious injuries. This action comes after massive protests in the country following the military coup.
According to The Myanmar Times, Mandalay Mayor U Ye Lwin, a highly respected figure of Myanmar’s second-largest city, was among those arrested by the police.
The reasons for his arrest remain unclear, however, it was speculated that the cause was a post on his social media account urging his staff to rally against the military-led government.
Lwin, whom many people credit for modernising the city during the last five years, had also rejected an offer from the military government to continue his post as the head of the city.
The large scale arrests took place a day after the military-led government imposed a curfew and a ban on gatherings of five people or more, an action they deemed threatening to the stability of the country, reported The Myanmar Times.
A young woman and two men were arrested for raising the three-finger salute as protesters marched on. The salute, opposing tyrannical rule, was popularised by the fictional work ‘The Hunger Games’ and has become the symbol of protest against the military’s coup.
Anti-riot police officers issued several warnings to the protesters, yet thousands carried on against what they called the illegal seizure of power from a duly elected government.
At Naypyitaw, security forces resorted to firing live rounds, rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters. A woman was shot in the head and a man was shot in the chest with live ammunition. Both individuals are said to be in critical condition.
At some places, the police also used water cannons to disperse protesters. According to an earlier report by The Myanmar Times, 90 townships in 30 cities, including 44 townships in Yangon, have been placed under an 8 pm to 4 am curfew since February 8.
