Kyauk Taw based artillery battalion no 377 was attacked by Arakan Army (AA) members on Wednesday morning by 107 mm type rocket launchers, informed AA sources claiming that it was a timely warning to the security forces.
Brigadier Win Zaw Oo, spokesperson of the western command in Myanmar military, informed that AA members attacked the artillery battalion based at Kansouk village under Kyauk Taw township, 80 miles north of the State capital city of Sittwe.
He also added that the soldiers hit back with powerful artillery guns over AA members and none in their side was injured because of the conflict.
Local villagers revealed that the attack started at around 5 and the exchange of firings continued till 8 am. Four artillery shells fall down and exploded at Apauk Wa village, where a 70 years old villager along with his 11 years old grandchild were injured. Both of them were admitted in Apauk Wa hospital.
Khaing Thu Ka, the spokesperson of AA, confirmed the attack and alleged that the artillery battalion fired several shells with no target. Few shells fall down inside the village too and the locals got scared. Then only the AA members fired on the security forces as a message of warning, he added.
Earlier AA members attacked an army convoy on Yangon- Sittwe highway inside Mrauk U township in the morning hours of 23 October. A fierce encounter between Tatmadaw and AA members broke out after the landmine explosion and it lasted for 15 minutes.
