25 bodies exhumed in village near Kachin jade mining hub

By Admin 25 Aug 2026

DMG Newsroom

25 August 2026, Hpakant, Kachin State

Villagers in Hmaw One Lay Village, Hpakant Township, Kachin State, have exhumed 25 bodies believed to have been killed and buried in the village.

Villagers returning home this month after fleeing the conflict discovered the unidentified bodies while clearing their home compounds.

"Not all the bodies were found in a single day. They were uncovered gradually as people cleaned up their properties. As of yesterday, 25 bodies have been found within Hmaw One Lay Village alone," a local man said.

Villagers began returning home in the first week of August, and the bodies were exhumed between August 8 and August 24.

Locals said identifying the 25 bodies remains difficult.

Hmaw One Lay Village is situated near Hpakant Town and was the site of fierce fighting between the military junta and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in 2025.

During the fighting, the military junta stationed troops in Hmaw One Lay Village for nearly a year. Villagers said the bodies were discovered at sites where military troops had been based.

As homes in Hmaw One Lay Village were burned and destroyed during the conflict, returning villagers face severe hardships and growing fears of landmines.

"Some returned to find no homes left because the military had burned them down. Landmines might also be present now. Everything we are encountering is alarming and terrifying," said a resident of Hmaw One Lay Village.

Having endured livelihood crises during displacement, returning residents continue to face post-war challenges that complicate their resettlement efforts.