Seven civilians injured as fighting flares in Minbya Township

By Hnin Nwe 09 Mar 2020

Hnin Nwe | DMG
March 9, Minbya
 
A clash occurred between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) near Phar Pyo village in Minbya Township, Arakan State, at about 5 p.m. on March 9, injuring seven civilians and burning down about 10 houses, according to locals.  

Local U Kyaing Thar said the civilian casualties occurred when artillery shells fired from the direction of the fighting, along a nearby mountain range, landed in Phar Pyo village.

“They had been in their houses. They were hit by artillery shells fired from the place where fighting occurred,” he said.

Locals said villagers from Phar Pyo village have fled to Ann Thar village and other safer locales.

“I heard the sound of gunshots from the Rar Maung Bridge in Minbya Township at about 5 p.m. today,” said State Hluttaw MP U Hla Thein Aung from Minbya Township. “After a while, villagers from that village phoned and said that civilians were injured and houses had caught fire.”

More than 130 civilians have been killed and over 360 people injured due to the conflict between the Tatmadaw and AA in Arakan State, according to the Arakan Students Union (Universities - Yangon).