No injuries reported in Paletwa Twsp bomb blasts

By DMG 28 May 2021

DMG Newsroom
28 May 2021, Paletwa

No one was injured when two bombs exploded in Paletwa town, Chin State, around 7:30 a.m. on May 28, according to the township police station.

The explosions took place in front of the Myoma ward administrator’s office and in front of the local Myanma Economic Bank branch, said Paletwa Township Police Chief Police Major Tun Ko Ko Latt, who added that the blasts occurred about 10 seconds apart, shortly after 7:30 on Friday morning.

Residents in downtown Paletwa were alarmed by the twin blasts, said U Kyaw Myint Oo, commander of the Myanmar Red Cross Society in Paletwa.

“There are banks where sound-bombs blasted, and police and soldiers are stationed there. The explosion has raised concerns among locals,” he said.

U Aung Kyaw Moe, a Paletwa resident, said the Tatmadaw and police had provided security at the scene of the blasts and traffic was restricted.

There have been no clashes between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) for about six months in Paletwa Township and neighbouring Arakan State.

As a result of previous clashes between the Myanmar military and the AA, there are more than 8,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Paletwa Township who have not yet been able to return home, with many struggling to make ends meet.

In 2019, heavy fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army left local people in the Paletwa and Samee areas facing food shortages.

More recently, fighting between the military and anti-regime forces displaced thousands of people in the town of Mindat, Chin State, earlier this month.