On January 6 or 7, 2022, members of the Myanmar military’s 140 Infantry Battalion abducted at least 10 people, including journalist Pu Tuidim, amid fighting between the military and anti-government forces in Chin State’s Matupi Township, and later executed them, according to news reports.
Pu Tuidim founded and edited the Khonumthung Media Group and was also a founder of the BNI Multimedia Group media network, according to those news reports, which said he also reported for the Chin News Agency and Kaladan News Agency.
Khonumthung Media Group editor-in-chief J. Sangtea told CPJ by email that soldiers used Pu Tuidim and the other abductees as human shields before executing them on January 8.
On January 9, Pu Tuidim’s body was found near that township’s Kilong village, along with the bodies of the other abductees, according to those reports.
Sangtea said military personnel seized Pu Tuidim’s laptop, and therefore likely knew he was a journalist. He said Pu Tuidim had interviewed members of the anti-junta Chin Defense Force prior to his abduction.
CPJ emailed Myanmar’s Ministry of Information for comment on Pu Tuidim’s death, but did not receive any reply.