Regime troops accused of mass arson in Pauktaw Twsp village

By Admin 12 Jan 2024

DMG Newsroom
12 January 2024, Pauktaw

Nearly all of the homes in Taungphu Village, part of Arakan State’s Pauktaw Township, were burned down by junta soldiers on Thursday, the Three Brotherhood Alliance said in a statement.

As many as 30 junta soldiers from two Myanmar Navy vessels entered Taungphu Village at around 8 a.m. on January 11, torching hundreds of homes. Taungphu Village is home to about 2,000 people from nearly 300 households and residents have fled to safer locations since the Pauktaw battle.

DMG continues to attempt to find out more details about the number of homes burned down by regime soldiers. Internet and mobile phone services are currently down in Pauktaw Township.

The regime’s Sittwe-based No. 12 police battalion fired mortar shells and launched drone attacks on some villages near Pauktaw yesterday morning, the Three Brotherhood Alliance said.

Two local men were injured in junta artillery strikes and drone attacks on Thawinchaung Village in Pauktaw Township on January 11. U San Shwe Mya, 63, and U Maung San Nu both suffered injuries to their right arms.

“The two men were injured after an artillery shell landed and exploded near their home without any fighting in the area,” said a local resident.

Mortar shells fired by a Myanmar Navy ship fell and exploded in Ngwetwinte and Letpanpyar villages in Pauktaw Township at about 10 a.m. on January 11.

“Two mortar shells fired by the Myanmar Navy vessel landed and exploded in farmland near the village yesterday, but no casualties were reported. Local people are worried about their safety due to the regime’s artillery strikes,” said a resident of Ngwetwinte Village.

The Myanmar Navy vessels fired multiple mortar shells into Pauktaw and surrounding villages Thursday evening, said the Three Brotherhood Alliance.

The military and Arakan Army (AA) have been fighting daily to gain control of Pauktaw town, with the regime conducting joint army, navy and air force operations since November 16.

The Pauktaw battle has forced thousands of local people in Pauktaw town and nearby villages to flee to safety.