Residents in fear as unexploded shell lands in Sittwe

By Admin 12 Jan 2024

DMG Newsroom
12 January 2024, Sittwe

Residents in the Arakan State capital Sittwe have expressed fears for their safety after a shell fired by a junta battalion landed in their neighbourhood.

Sittwe is the administrative seat of the military council in Arakan State.

A shell fired by the No. 12 Police Battalion based in Sittwe landed on Shwe Pyar Ward at around 5 p.m. on Thursday. Though it did not explode, people are concerned because of continuous bombardment by the regime.

“Battalions in Sittwe bombarded the whole day. One shell landed on Shwe Pyar Ward. It did not explode,” said a ward resident.

The shell landed in Sittwe as No. 12 Police Battalion is providing artillery support for junta troops in Pauktaw Township, which is being attacked by the Arakan Army (AA).

Some Shwe Pyar Ward residents fled to other wards after the shell landed in their ward.

“Shells fired by No. 12 Battalion zip over Shwe Pyar Ward and Kyetaw Village. Some have fled for fear that more shells will land,” said another resident from Shwe Pyar Ward.

Junta troops abducted nearly 20 civilians near Kyaytaw Village in Sittwe Township on Thursday morning.

The regime and the AA have been fighting in Sittwe, Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Pauktaw, Minbya, Myebon, An, Taungup, Kyaukphyu, and Ramree townships in Arakan State and Paletwa Township, Chin State. The AA has seized around 160 junta positions in those townships.