Large turnout at funeral for Yangon family killed in horrific attack

More than 1,000 people attended the funeral of a murdered family in Yangon on Monday morning days after they were all stabbed to death in their homes on Saturday in a shocking crime that has mystified authorities.

The murders, which include two boys aged 13 and 8, reportedly occurred on Saturday morning in Mingalardon township.

The victims were identified in local media as 37-year-old retired police officer Soe Naung, his wife Ma Cherry Pwint, and their two sons Han Thura, 13 and 8-year-old Swan Htet Myat, 7Day reported. They were discovered by a relative who lived with them but happened to be staying with her daughter in another township at the time of the attack occurred.

Police have yet to identify suspects.

According to neighbors who spoke to 7Day, Soe Naung resigned from the police force in 2014 and started a business selling construction materials.

He and his family were all stabbed multiple times. The youngest was found with three wounds on his neck and chest, according to the report.

A police official was quoted as saying that Soe Naung resigned from his career in law enforcement by choice, implying he had not left under acrimonious circumstances. He said an investigation is underway, but early signs suggest this was no robbery gone wrong.

“We know that no valuable things were lost in the house,” he was quoted as saying.

The large crowd who came to the funeral Monday morning gathered at the the Yay Way cemetery in North Okkalapa township.

A source on the scene said that more than 1,000 people attended. They encircled the caskets as they made their way to the cemetery under the guidance of local police and firefighters and an NGO that provides free funeral services.

Less than a week ago, Yangon division police major Hla Wai told the Irrawaddy that major crime rates this year had decreased amid a three-month crackdown on crime when compared with a similar crackdown period in 2015.

“During the short-term [three month] crime crackdown in 2015, we saw 99 major crimes, and during the 2016 plan, we saw 140,” Hla Wai was quoted as saying.

According to the report, by “major crimes” he means rape, murder and kidnapping, among other serious offenses such as robbery.

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