Tens of thousands of local residents are fleeing from another wave of political arson that torched nearly 600 houses in 6 villages in Inn Ywar Province, Katha Township, Sagaing Region.
An official of Katha District No. 3 Battalion of People’s Defense Force (PDF) of the National Unity Government (NUG) said that the local residents of Mel Ngo, Thar Yar Kone, Thet Tu Lel, Phayar Taung, Inn Gyi, and Hlay Bo villages have no home to return to, and no food.
“The villagers are homeless. They live together in the forests and mountains. There is no food or drink. The worst thing is that since these villages are mainly rice producing villages, the rice
harvest was done in the winter, so the harvested rice was stored in the barns. All those granaries are gone, and they have no food." The official said.
The above official said that these areas were targeted because the Military Council determined that the People’s Defense Force (PDF) was strong. It is also reported that 400 soldiers that entered the villages and burned the houses, were from Light Infantry Battalion 121, based in Ngaroe Village, Mabein Township, Northern Shan State.
It is said that after the Military Council’s columns torched the villages from February 11- 14 th , they also planted landmines, making it impossible for the villagers to return to live in the village. Ahlelkyun village was torched on January 19, and more than 10,000 households in Inn Ywar province have fled.
