Khaing Roe La - One woman and three men from Thaekam Htaunt village in Arakan State’s Ann Township were wounded when two artillery shells landed and exploded in and near the village on July 26, according to locals.
An artillery shell believed to have been fired from the Kazu Kaing mountain range about 1 mile northeast of Thaekam Htaunt village, which is within the Kazu Kaing village-tract, landed near the village and exploded at around 11 a.m. on July 26.
Another artillery shell hit a coconut tree in the village and four villagers were injured by shrapnel, according to Daw Khin Than Shwe, a resident.
“An artillery shell hit a coconut palm in the village. Two people enjoying lunch in a house and two others in their homes were wounded by shrapnel,” she said.
The injured have been identified as Ma May Hla Chay, 25, U Maung Maung Than, 55, Ko Tun Tun Thein, 30, and Ko Nga Lone, 25. They are currently receiving medical treatment at a rural healthcare center in Kanhtaunggyi town, Myebon Township, said U Maung Cherry from a local funeral service society.
“Four injured people arrived in a boat at about 11 a.m. and they are now receiving medical treatment at Kanhtaunggyi Hospital. The victims were wounded by shrapnel and are said to be not in critical condition,” he said.
Residents claimed that there had been no hostilities between the military and the Arakan Army near the village on the day of the twin shellings, but Tatmadaw personnel have reportedly been seen along the Kazu Kaing mountain range.
The shelling of Thaekam Htaunt prompted some residents to flee to nearby villages and Kanhtanggyi town, local resident Daw Hnin Moe Nwe said.
“We face hardships. Rural people earn their living by farming and don’t want armed conflicts. I would like to ask both the military and Arakan Army to stop fighting,” she added.
Clashes in western Myanmar have flared with regularity since late 2018, and the number of civilians killed or wounded by errant artillery fire or other combat-adjacent violence continues to rise.
