Junta shellings blamed for killing two, injuring one in two Arakan townships

By Admin 23 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
23 November 2023, Minbya

Two residents were killed and another was injured after mortar shells landed and exploded in Arakan State’s Minbya and Mrauk-U townships on November 22, according to locals.

The deceased have been identified as U Phyu Lone, in his 70s from Kaythalar Pyunwa Village in Minbya Township, and U Oo Kyaw, in his 60s from Layhnyintha Village in Mrauk-U Township.

U Phyu Lone was killed when an artillery shell fell and exploded on a paddy field near Kyatsin Bridge while he was sleeping at about 1 a.m. on November 23, locals said.

“U Phyu Lone was hit by shrapnel while he was sleeping under the bridge near his paddy farm. He was pronounced dead on the scene,” said the abbot of Kaythalar Pyunwa Village’s monastery.

U Than Lone Maung, a resident of Latwahkhat Village who was together with U Phyu Lone at the time of that shelling, sustained minor injuries to his right shoulder.

Locals accused the military’s regiments in Minbya of firing multiple mortar shells into residential areas indiscriminately and without fighting on November 22.

“The military battalions in Minbya fired artillery shells into some villages at night,” said a local resident.

U Oo Kyaw, a local man from Layhnyintha Village in Mrauk-U Township, was killed when a Myanmar Navy vessel opened fire on the village indiscriminately along the Kaladan River at about 8:30 p.m. on November 22, according to local people.

“A Myanmar Navy vessel fired four gunshots into the village indiscriminately. We still dare not go outside to see the situation,” said a local woman.

The Myanmar Navy vessel has been opening fire near the village for two days since November 21, locals said.

About 80 civilian casualties were reported in Arakan State and in neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township within the first 10 days of the latest hostilities between the military and Arakan Army, due largely to the junta’s indiscriminate airstrikes and shelling, according to a DMG tally.