Rathedaung Twsp man injured in junta shelling

By Admin 22 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
22 November 2023, Rathedaung

A local man from Ngasanbaw Village, part of Arakan State’s Rathedaung Township, was injured after an artillery shell landed and exploded in the village on Wednesday morning.

The man has been identified as U Kyaw Than Maung, 42. He was wounded by a mortar shell fired from a junta base housing the military’s tactical command in Rathedaung Township.

“Four artillery shells fired by the military fell and exploded in the village. He was hit by shrapnel when he fled to a safer location from his home,” said a resident of Ngasanbaw Village.

U Kyaw Than Maung sustained shrapnel wounds to his left thigh and foot and his condition is considered not life-threatening.

The junta base housing the military’s tactical command fired at least 10 mortar shells into the village without provocation or any hostilities with the AA in the area. A military camp on Mahnyi Hill also fired heavy weapons into residential areas on November 21, locals said.

“Only men remain in the village. Local women have fled to safer locations. Residents left in the village stay together. Junta soldiers open fire indiscriminately without fighting,” said a local man from Ngasanbaw Village.

Thousands of locals from Kyaukyan, Maungphyu, Thazi, Ngasanbaw and Yayboke villages in Rathedaung Township have fled to safer locations since renewed hostilities in Arakan State on November 13, with just a few men remaining in the village.

A local man from Natseik Village in Ponnagyun Township was seriously injured after he was hit by a stray bullet fired by junta soldiers on November 18.

Civilian casualties have been on the rise due to the junta’s indiscriminate shelling and small arms fire following renewed hostilities between the military and Arakan Army (AA), which began early on November 13.

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 indiscriminate junta airstrikes, shellings and gunfire.