Woman killed, two others injured by mortar strike in Kayin State’s Thandaunggyi Twsp

By DMG 28 Nov 2022

DMG Newsroom
28 November 2022, Thandaunggyi, Kayin State

A local woman was killed and two others were injured by an artillery strike in Thanmoetaung Village, part of Kayin State’s Thandaunggyi Township, on November 26, according to residents.

Fierce fighting broke out between a coalition led by the Karen National Union (KNU) and the military’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 603 near Thanmoetaung Village on Saturday morning.

Daw Ma Lay, a 50-year-old local woman, was killed and two male family members were wounded by the military’s airstrikes and shelling into the village, a resident said.

“An artillery shell hit the home of Daw Ma Lay following the fighting. She was pronounced dead on the spot and two family members were severely injured. The injured were sent to Taungoo Hospital,” the resident added.

The two injured men sustained shrapnel wounds to their heads, and their conditions are considered life-threatening, according to family members of the victims.

“The injured are being treated at Taungoo Hospital and they are said to be in critical condition,” a family member said.

As a result of Saturday’s fighting, a building was damaged when an artillery shell hit the Mother Mary Catholic Christian Church in Thanmoetaung village, villagers said.

“The place of worship was damaged after the church was hit by an artillery shell. There are unexploded artillery shells near the church,” a villager said.

Regime spokesperson Major-General Zaw Min Tun could not be reached for comment regarding the civilian casualties in Thandaunggyi Township.

Tensions between the KNU and military are running high in Thandaunggyi Township as around 100 junta soldiers in seven trucks were deployed to the area on November 27 and 28.