Minbya Twsp woman injured by junta artillery strike

By DMG 06 Oct 2022

DMG Newsroom
6 October 2022, Minbya 

A woman was injured and some houses were damaged by artillery strikes in Arakan State’s Minbya and Rathedaung townships on Wednesday, according to locals. 

Daw Sein Aye Nu, 48, was injured on her left arm when an artillery shell struck the fence of her house in Minbya Township’s Kyan Tike Village at around 8 p.m., a resident told DMG. 

“Troops belonging to Light Infantry Battalion 541 based on Nga/Sarine Chaung Hill fired five shells, and the last shell hit the village,” he said. “She was sleeping at her house when she was hit by shrapnel that hit the fence of the house. She injured her left arm. Her throat was slightly bruised.” 

Six houses were damaged in Kyauk Yan Thazi Village, Rathedaung Township, on October 4-5, according to villagers. 

“Four houses were damaged by five shells on October 4, and two more houses were damaged by two shells yesterday. They are also firing shells today,” a resident told DMG at around noon on Thursday. 

Locals have fled their villages out of concerns for their safety, said a resident of Yay Myet Village. 

“Only around six men are left at the village. They fired more than 30 shells throughout the day yesterday. The military aircraft also came and fired shots around 1 a.m. [on Thursday]. And [junta soldiers] from the hilltop tactical command base also fired artillery. We dare not sleep the whole night,” he said. 

DMG was unable to obtain comment from Arakan State Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Kyaw Thura and Major-General Zaw Min Tun. 

Military tensions are running high in Arakan State’s Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships, as well as in neighbouring Paletwa Township, Chin State.