Junta shelling kills four, injures two others in Kyauktaw Twsp village

By DMG 16 Nov 2022

DMG Newsroom
16 November 2022, Kyauktaw

Four men were killed and two other people including a Grade 9 student were injured by an artillery strike in Chaungtu Village, part of Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township, at about noon on Wednesday.

The deceased were killed inside a local home, and have been identified as U Khin Maung, 54; U Aung Gyi Maung, 48; U Phyu Tha Tun, 59; and U Maung Maung Htay. Three of the four fatalities died at the scene and U Maung Maung Htay succumbed to shrapnel wounds at Yoetayoke Hospital.

“The deceased were having a conversation at home at the time of shelling. Three men were pronounced dead on the spot,” said a resident of Chaungtu Village.

The injured have been identified as Ma Aye Nu Yi, the 14-year-old ninth grader, and Daw Wai Tha Sein, 50. Daw Wai Tha Sein sustained shrapnel wounds to her left shoulder and Ma Aye Nu Yi suffered injuries to her legs, with the pair being admitted to Yoetayoke Hospital in Ponnagyun Township for treatment.

“The injured were severely wounded by the shelling and they are said to be in critical condition,” the Chaungtu Village resident added.

Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 539 reportedly fired the mortar shells into Chaungtu Village after small arms fire was heard from Sangun Hill, about a mile south of the village, at around 10 a.m., another resident said.

“Junta soldiers from Kansauk Village-based LIB No. 539 were deployed on Sangun Hill. I don’t know exactly whether fighting erupted or not. They [junta soldiers] fired mortar shells into the village after gunfire was heard,” he said.

“We feel unsafe as junta soldiers opened fire indiscriminately. Junta jet fighters are now flying overhead. No one remained in the village and all residents fled to Yoetayoke Village,” he added.

Chaungtu Village has a population of nearly 2,000 people.

“The villagers have fled to Yoetayoke Village and only elderly people remain in the village. Some people also remained in the village to care for their parents and they are trapped in the village,” the resident said.

DMG attempted to contact Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Kyaw Thura and the spokesman for the military junta, Major-General Zaw Min Tun, regarding the matter, but they could not be reached.

At least seven residents including two 7-year-olds were reportedly injured after artillery shells landed and exploded in Shwepyithit Village, Kyauktaw Township, on November 11.