A resident of Hakha has lost the lower half of his leg after accidentally denoting a concealed landmine that some people suspect was planted by the Burma Army (BA).

Byet Cung, 30, was foraging for wild vegetables when he stepped on the hidden explosive device on 1 October. People found the man from Hakha Htar Ward and took him to the hospital in the Chin State capital.

“His left leg was cut off above the ankle on Saturday and his condition has stabilised, but I think he’ll have to stay in the hospital for a bit longer,” Byet Cung’s friend told Khonumthung News.

The Chin resistance groups often clash with the BA in Hakha Township, which is known to lay landmines in the area to restrict their movement. According to local human right groups, BA shelling killed at least 6 people and wounded 10 in the capital.

In Hakha town, a fire broke out at the BA’s Union Solidarity and Development Party office on 4 October, as staff cleaned the building ahead of a visit by party leaders and senior military officials who will meet to discuss matters related to the 2023 national elections.

“The regime’s armed forces were deployed to guard the office,” said a local who wished to remain anonymous. He was surprised by the incident as it had been raining heavily in the town for the past three days.

Although firefighters extinguished it the same night, all the documents and other items in the office were destroyed.

In August, there was a fire at the office of the Ministry of Construction of Hakha District in Pyitaw Thar Ward.