Three civilians, including a child, and a Chinland Defence Force soldier (CDF) were killed by shelling in Mindat Township, southern Chin State.

According to an anonymous CDF officer, Infantry Battalion 274 fired an artillery shell from Mindat town that hit a house in Amlawng village, killing the homeowners, their son and Chin fighter Salai Billy Awng Thang on 25 February.

“The shell landed on the house when people were discussing about issues affecting IDPs (internally displaced persons) in Amlawng. Our soldier was working in the administration department and helping the IDPs,” the officer told Khonumthung News.

Two children and two adults were also wounded in the attack.

Before the coup, Salai Billy Awng Thang was a pastor in Mindat town.

The IB-274 frequently shells villages from Mindat, killing and wounding villagers and damaging houses.

The regime cut telephone and internet connections during the conflict with the Chin resistance groups based in Mindat, Matupi and Kanpetlet townships.

According to the Chin National Front, the political wing of the Chin National Army fighting the regime, the military carried out over 115 attacks using jet fighters, airships and artillery strikes against Chin resistance groups in the state from January to 25 February, damaging many houses, churches and Buddhist monasteries.

In January, the military attacked 26 times in Thangtlang, 12 times in Mindat and 2 times in Matupi townships.

In February, the regime attacked Thangtlang Township 75 times and 34 attacks took place on 16 and 25 February. In addition to the attacks last month in Thangtlang, the regime also attacked other areas of the state.