A farmer was shot in the leg when he was in his paddy field during fighting between rival Shan ethnic armed organisations (EAO) in southern Shan State.

It is unclear which EAO fired the bullet that hit Sai San Aung, 30, near Ner Htung village, Kehsi Township on July 4.

Fighting between the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) on Loi Huan mountain has displaced thousands of civilians.

Sai Tin, a volunteer helping villagers who have sought refuge from the conflict in Kehsi town, told SHAN an SSPP medic sent the injured farmer to its Wan Hai headquarters for medical treatment.

SHAN tried to confirm this with Maj Sai Phone Han, SSPP spokesperson, but he didn’t answer his phone.

Fighting between the EAOs over the last month uprooted over 3,000 people.