At least four civilians were killed when artillery shells fired by Myanmar junta troops struck Ywar Taw village in Kan Pyar Gyi village tract, Monywa Township, Sagaing Region, a local source confirmed to Mizzima.
The shelling occurred around 9:00 am on 24 April, when three artillery rounds were launched by the junta’s Northwestern Command based in Monywa. Two shells directly hit a civilian home, causing multiple casualties and widespread damage.
Among the injured were 70-year-old Daw Wyne Kyi, 50-year-old Daw Mi Paing, 50-year-old Ko Aung Kyaw Oo, 40-year-old Ko Phyo Wai, and a child.
“Tragically, Daw Wyne Kyi, who was asleep at the time, was killed instantly when a shell struck her chest. Two brothers, who sustained severe limb injuries, also died from blood loss,” a local source said.
The shelling followed a clash two days earlier on 22 April, when a unit of the People’s Defense Force (PDF) ambushed a junta captain and a platoon returning from shopping between Kywae Ye and Thamanar villages. The ambush resulted in the deaths of the junta personnel and injuries to a civilian, according to local witnesses.
In retaliation, junta forces raided nearby Kywae Ye village, detaining two residents and setting fire to several homes. Troops from the artillery regiment based in Kyauk Sit Pone Myauk village were reportedly involved in clashes with local defense groups, although Mizzima could not independently verify the details.
Locals reported that junta troops continued shelling in the evening of 24 April and the morning of 25 April, though the exact targets remain unclear. The violence has forced residents from surrounding villages including Kan Pyar Gyi, Kywae Ye, Khoe Than, and Thamanar to flee their homes.
Kan Pyar Gyi village tract, which includes Pay Gone, Sone Gone, and Ywar Taw villages, lies along the Monywa-Tharzi Road, roughly seven miles from Monywa town. It is positioned between the junta’s artillery base in Kyauk Sit Pone Myauk and the Northwestern Command headquarters.
Despite a ceasefire declared by both the National Unity Government (NUG) and the junta following the powerful 28 March earthquake, junta forces have continued artillery and aerial attacks. Revolutionary groups report that these violations have led to a growing number of civilian deaths.
