Junta shelling kills woman, injures two others in Kayin State

26 Jan 2023

DMG Newsroom
26 January 2023, Kyondoe, Kayin State

A local woman was killed and two others were injured after mortar shells landed and exploded in three villages near Kyondoe town in Kayin State on Tuesday morning, according to residents.

Fierce clashes broke out between the military and a coalition led by Brigade 6 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), in the area from January 22 to 25.

Civilian casualties were reported after the military’s Kyondoe-based Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 545 and 546 fired mortar shells into Thayettaw, Nyaungbintha and Kanni villages during the fighting, local people said.

“The military fired mortar shells into residential areas during the fighting, killing a woman. An elderly man and his grandson were injured after their home was hit by an artillery strike, and they were admitted to Hpa-an Hospital,” said a resident of Kanni Village.

The injured, identified as a 70-year-old man and a 4-year-old boy, received shrapnel wounds to their legs and backs, the Kanni villager added.

“About 10 homes, mostly from Kanni Village, were burnt to ashes by the military’s mortar attack,” an eyewitness said.

DMG attempted to contact regime spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun for comment on the burning of homes and civilian casualties, but he could not be reached.

“As many as 2,000 locals were forced to flee the fighting. Some went into hiding in Mawlamyine [in neighbouring Mon State] and some fled to Hpa-an,” said a local who was displaced by the fighting.