A suspected drone operated firing by the Burmese junta forces injured three civilians, including a 75 years old man, on a village under Buthidaung township of Rakhine State.

On 23 October at around 1 pm, the military council fired 3 bullets from a drone at the school of Buthidaung township’s Po Khao Chong (Muslim) village, where some refugee families were temporarily taking shelter, said a local villager.

Maung Phyo Than Chay(17), who fled from Nget Phyo Caung Rakhine village along witth Ko Mar Mauk Anawa (25) and U Ka Lu (75) from Pho Khaung Chaung Muslim village sustained injuries in the drone attack. Roof of the school was also damaged. The Rakhine families have left the school after the attack.

“The army personnel fired three shots and hit a school where some IDP were taking shelter. I believe the soldiers launched the drone attack at around 1 pm from a nearby place to Ghou Tar Byint village. Those IDPs escaped the ongoing battles between the Burmese forces and Arakan Army members,” he added.

The village elders commented that some people in Rakhine state have lost their lives and many more injured in the shelling attack of the army personnel from time to time. Now the military council has used drones for the same, which is very unfortunate, they stated.

Earlier on 21 October, a military operated drone on a village near to Lin Mwe Taung mountain under Mrauk U Township, where a military outpost is stationed, was hit back by three gunshots from AA members.

“At around 11 am on Sunday, a military surveillance drone hovered over a village. Three shots were fired from the AA base. The soldiers responded by firing with large and small weapons for some time,” added the villagers.

They claim that the Burmese army personnel know where the AA is stationed, but they don't dare to fight against the armed members. So, they target the villages with frustration, asserted the local residents.