Three civilians hit by gunfire on Kyauktaw’s outskirts

By Hnin Nwe 12 May 2020

Hnin Nwe | DMG
12 May, Kyauktaw

Three people were wounded by gunfire near Kispanadi Bridge at the entrance to Kyauktaw town, Arakan State, on the evening of May 11.

U Hla Maung Tha, 53, religious teacher Saya M Jamarlodin, 37, and Maung Maung Soe, 17, were shot after an explosion near the bridge, residents said.

Two of them were hit by stray bullets while they were on a motorcycle travelling to Kyauktaw’s Paikthay ward to buy water bottles and soft drinks for their shops. The third was hit while he was in Paikthay, ward official U Maung Thein Kyaw told DMG.

The Tatmadaw released a statement that security forces carrying out operations in Kyauktaw were attacked by the Arakan Army with two remote-controlled mines when they arrived at a location 300 meters west of Kispanadi Bridge, on the right side of the Yangon-Sittwe Pyidaungsu road. There were no reports of injuries due to the attack and members of the security contingent conducted mine clearance and security operations in the area, the Tatmadaw said.

The Tatmadaw did not, however, mention any gunfire-related civilian injuries in or around Paikthay ward following the explosion.

U Hla Maung Tha sustained leg and torso wounds, M Jamarlodin was injured on his right arm and left hand, and both of Maung Maung Soe’s legs were hurt.

The injured were to be sent to Sittwe General Hospital, said U Maung Thein Kyaw.

U Oo Tun Win, the Pyithu Hluttaw lawmaker for Kyauktaw Township, said there should not be gunfire in town wards like Paikthay.

“Gunfire is currently seen in crowded town areas very often. The gunfire on May 11 evening was at the time when a lot of people were on the road, which made people panic,” he said.

A 5-year-old girl who is sheltering at the Maha Kan Gyi Shin Phayargyi IDP camp in Kyauktaw was hit by a motorcycle while running in panic after hearing the gunfire near the town on Monday evening.

Her left leg was injured and she received medical treatment at Sittwe Hospital, according to people who are providing help to her.