Local woman killed, six people wounded as regime shells Mrauk-U

By Admin 02 Jan 2024

DMG Newsroom
2 January 2024, Mrauk-U

A junta artillery strike killed a civilian and injured six others in Mrauk-U’s Shwegutaung Ward at about 7:30 p.m. on January 1.

Civilian casualties were reported after the military’s Mrauk-U-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 540 fired mortar shells into residential areas in Mrauk-U without there being any fighting in the area on Monday.

“Seven local residents sustained shrapnel wounds as a mortar shell landed and exploded in Shwegutaung Ward. One of the injured was killed on the spot,” said a local resident in Mrauk-U.

The 53-year-old deceased woman has been identified as Daw Oo Thein Nu and the wounded have been identified as U Maung Pein, 52, Daw Khin May Thein, 54, Ma Hla Nyein Win, 21, U Win Htay, 38, Ko Min Thant Soe, 19, and U Win Myint Aung, 56.

The injured are being treated at Mrauk-U Hospital. U Win Htay is said to be in critical condition.

“One of the injured received shrapnel wounds to his head and his condition is considered life-threatening,” said another Mrauk-U resident.

Fighting between the military and Arakan Army (AA) has been ongoing in Mrauk-U since December 24, with the ethnic armed group seizing the district police station on December 26.

Fourteen civilians were killed and 16 others were injured due to junta artillery strikes and drone attacks during the Mrauk-U battle.