A bus operated by Myat Mandalar Tun Express company was attacked with gunfire while traveling on the Myeik-Kawthaung Road in Tanintharyi Region, killing a woman and a child, locals said.

On the evening of April 1st, at around 7:30 PM, a highway bus en route from Myeik to Kawthaung was fired upon while passing through the area between Leltaungyar and Tamokechone villages in Tanintharyi Township.

Tragically, the incident resulted in the loss of two lives: a 6-year-old child and a 40-year-old woman who were passengers on the bus, a local said.

“Two died in the incident, while a monk and two other male passengers on the bus sustained injuries. The wounded were promptly transported to nearby hospitals with the assistance of ambulances”, he explained.

Later, the Myeik District 2nd Battalion of the People's Defense Forces (PDF) and the People's Defense Joint Forces have acknowledged that they mistakenly fired at the Myat Mandalar Tun passenger bus, causing the regrettable incident.

The incident occurred during a time when most civilians were not traveling, and coincided with the arrival of resistance forces who had received intel that the Military Council's reinforcements would be traveling along the same road. Upon seeing a passenger bus, the resistance forces fired a warning shot in an attempt to stop the vehicle. However, when the bus continued to drive, they mistook it for the enemy's disguise and opened fire, according to the statement of the resistance forces.

The statement added that the shooting was unintentional, and as a result, people lost their lives. The statement further conveyed the resistance forces' heartfelt condolences to the families of those affected by the tragedy.

Similarly on February 17th, a passenger bus, owned by Shwe Nyi Ko Express Company, was shot at near Khechaung village in Pyi Gyi Mandai Township, Bokepyin Township District, Tanintharyi Region, resulting in the untimely and unfortunate deaths of a 7-year-old boy and a 21-year-old woman.