Junta artillery strikes kill elderly man; injure four women in Rathedaung Twsp

By Admin 24 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
24 November 2023, Rathedaung

A local man was killed and four others were injured by junta artillery strikes on a village in Rathedaung Township, Arakan State, on Friday.

Three mortar shells fired by a junta base in Yaysoechaung Village, Rathedaung Township, fell in Laigwin Village, killing a resident on the spot and wounding four others at about 5 p.m. on November 24.

“We heard loud explosions. Three artillery shells landed and exploded in the village, killing a man and injuring four women. The injured were reportedly taken to the hospital,” said a local woman from Laigwin Village.

The 60-year-old deceased has been identified as U Chan Tha Sein. Residents of the village have fled to safer locations in fear following the junta’s artillery strikes.

“I returned home when I heard the sounds of heavy weapons. The junta artillery strikes killed a local man and injured four women. The villagers have fled to safer locations in fear,” said a resident who did not wish to be named for security reasons.

U Kyaw Than Maung, 42, from Ngasanbaw Village, part of Arakan State’s Rathedaung Township, was wounded by a mortar shell fired from a junta base housing the military’s tactical command in Rathedaung Township on November 22.

At least 68 civilian casualties have been reported to date in Arakan State and neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township during the latest hostilities between the military and Arakan Army (AA).

Fifteen people have been killed and 53 others were injured in the latest Arakan State fighting, according to a DMG tally. Among the casualties are more than 30 men, 20 women and 11 children.

The regime is accused of committing war crimes targeting civilians in Arakan State during the previous fighting. Politicians say that civilians may face more targeting by the regime during the current hostilities.