Shelling kills two, injures seven in Buthidaung Township

By Cha Lu Aung 25 Jan 2020

Cha Lu Aung | DMG

25 January, Buthidaung

An artillery shell that landed in Kin Taung (Muslim) village, Buthidaung Township, early on January 25 killed two villagers and injured seven others, according to family members of the victims.

Noor Harbi, a16-year-girl, died at the scene and a 20-year-old pregnant woman died soon after she was taken to hospital.

Another three women and four men were injured and are receiving medical treatment at the hospital in Buthidaung, northern Arakan State.

“An artillery shell landed at about 1 a.m. Five family members from our home got injuries and two died and two were injured from the house beside ours,” said Kin Taung village resident Khazara Khatu.

In the shelling’s aftermath, some pointed a finger at the Tatmadaw’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 551, which is stationed north of Kin Taung.  

“An artillery shell fell between two houses at 1:30 a.m. this morning. One died at the scene and another died after being sent to the hospital. The artillery shell was fired by the Tatmadaw,” said Noor Sarbar, a relative of one person who was injured.

The Tatmadaw denied responsibility for the deadly shelling, however, instead blaming the Arakan Army (AA). In the military’s account of events transpiring in the early hours of January 25, its troops were forced to retaliate after coming under attack from the AA at Phone Nyo Leik Bridge, which is located near Kin Taung village. 

According to the Tatmadaw announcement, an artillery shell fired by the AA during the fighting landed in Kin Taung village and was the cause of the casualties. 

There was no fighting with the Tatmadaw on January 25 anywhere near the site of the shelling, according to AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha, who said the Tatmadaw accusation was baseless. 

On January 7, four Muslim students were killed and five others were injured, along with their teacher, when an artillery shell exploded while they were collecting firewood near Hteik Tuu Pauk village, also part of Buthidaung Township. The Tatmadaw and the AA blamed each other for that incident.