Two villagers injured in Kyauktaw Twsp mine blast

By DMG 14 Oct 2022

DMG Newsroom
14 October 2022, Kyauktaw

Two people from Khaung Toke Palaung Village in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township were reportedly injured after a mine placed on a fence of the Myanmar military’s No. 9 Military Operations Command headquarters exploded on Thursday evening.

The incident occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m., when Pucho Barno, 35, and her 2-year-old son were wounded after they were hit by shrapnel from the explosive device.

Pucho Barno sustained injuries to her chest and her son’s back was wounded, a local resident in Khaung Toke village-tract told DMG.

“The No. 9 Military Operations Command headquarters and houses in our village are only 12 feet apart. She [Pucho Barno] received mine injuries to her chest and her son sustained injuries to his back,” a local resident in Khaung Toke village-tract told DMG.

The toddler is being treated by a healthcare worker in the village and his mother was admitted to Kyauktaw Hospital, another resident said.

“Because the child’s condition is considered not life-threatening, he is being treated by a health worker in the village. A military doctor came to the home of the victim [Pucho Barno] and transferred her to Kyauktaw Hospital. She is now receiving medical treatment at Kyauktaw Hospital and her condition is considered life-threatening,” the resident explained.

Another resident told DMG, on condition of anonymity, that an official from the No. 9 Military Operations Command headquarters said the mine explosion occurred due to a short circuit.

“We told them [military officials] last night to remove the mines on the fence if they are not needed. We told them to put mines away from the village if necessary, but they didn’t say anything. They don’t care about us. They placed about 10 mines on the fence,” he added.

DMG attempted to contact Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the regime, and Colonel Kyaw Thura, Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs, regarding the villager’s accusation, but they could not be reached.

There are some 250 households and more than 1,400 people in Khaung Toke Palaung Village.

An 18-year-old man from Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township, who lost both legs in a landmine blast last month, reportedly succumbed to his injuries on September 29. The deceased, Mrauk-U town resident Maung Soe Naing Kyaw, encountered the landmine while on his way to a hill to forage for mushrooms.