Man killed by stray bullet in Buthidaung Township

16 Sep 2019

Cha Lu Aung | DMG
16 September, Buthidaung
     
Stray bullets hit civilians’ houses when a military troop shot guns following a landmine blast near a bridge between Thabeik Taung and Kin Chaung villages in Buthidaung Township on 15 September, according to local sources.

The gunfire forced villagers to flee from Kin Chaung village for safety, said U Tun Aung Thein, Arakan State MP for Buthidaung Township.

“Stray bullets shot by the military troop hit houses. Almost all villagers fled to Buthidaung town on foot,” the lawmaker said.

Kin Chaung village’s resident population is over 100 and it is four miles far from Buthidaung town.

The Tatmadaw troop’s gunfire killed a man from Thabeik Taung (Muslim) village. U Abdul Kawrim, 45, was killed by a bullet wound, said U Einu, a local resident from Thabeik Taung village.

“The military troop shot guns indiscriminately into villages after they experienced a landmine explosion. One man from our village was killed and a woman received injuries. Two cows were also killed by bullet wounds. Some members of the military troop have reportedly been injured during the landmine blast,” he said.

Colonel Win Zaw Oo, chief of the Western Command, said that the man who planted the landmine was killed when his landmine exploded.

“This is the third time they set up landmines at the place our military troops are likely to travel. Their two previous attempts failed. This time, the man who tried to plant the landmine lacked skills and it detonated while he was trying to plant it,” Colonel Win Zaw Oo said.

Teachers who are working in Thabeik Taung village also fled to Buthodaung town due to the gunfire in the village.

 “We came back to Buthidaung after the gunfire. Villagers remained in their village. Only our vehicles were allowed to pass. We saw military troops conducting patrolling operations on the motorway. We also saw a large number of bullet shells,” said an anonymous teacher.

Villagers from Thabeik Taung (Arakanese) village wanted to flee to Buthidaung town during the gunfire, but they had to take shelter in the village monastery because the Tatmadaw troop prohibited their movement, villagers said.

Displaced people from Kin Chaung village are taking shelter in Shwe Kyin monastery in Buthidaung town.

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