Three civilians injured as regime forces shell Maungdaw Twsp village

By Admin 05 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
5 December 2023, Maungdaw

Three local residents in Shweyinaye Village, part of Arakan State’s Maungdaw Township, were injured in a junta artillery strike at around 4 p.m. on December 4.

Mortar shells fired by a Border Guard Force (BGF) battalion fell in Shweyinaye Village on Monday evening, injuring Daw Khin Ye, 62, Ko Maung Hla Aye, 25, and Ma Hla Sein Win, a 22-year-old pregnant woman.

“The BGF battalion fired six mortar shells into the village yesterday. Three mortar shells landed and exploded in the village. The trio sustained shrapnel wounds as one of the mortar shells fell in front of their home,” said a villager.

Ko Maung Hla Aye received shrapnel wounds to his left thigh and the two women sustained shrapnel injuries to their backs. The three are currently being treated at Maungdaw Hospital.

Residents of Shweyinaye Village have fled.

“All residents in the village have fled to safer locations and only one remained in the village. The BGF members fired heavy weapons indiscriminately without there being fighting in the area,” said a local woman.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from junta spokesman Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun regarding the matter.

A community elder in Maungdaw said the junta’s conduct was intended to induce fear among civilian populations.

“Junta troops fire heavy weapons at night without there being fighting. The junta’s indiscriminate firings without there being fighting aim to instill fear among the local people,” the community elder added.

Civilian casualties have been on the rise in Arakan State due to the junta’s frequently indiscriminate shellings, airstrikes and drone attacks on residential areas.