Hnin Nwe — A fire broke out at Phar Pyo village in Minbya Township, Arakan State, on the night of March 29, with two villagers killed and 11 homes destroyed, said U Hla Aung Nyunt, an MP in the Arakan State legislature representing Minbya Township.

About 20 military personnel stationed near Rarmaung Bridge entered the village shooting at about 10 p.m., according to U Hla Aung Nyunt, who said the soldiers set fire to houses but added that the causes of death for the two people killed are not yet known.

“We cannot confirm whether the two died from bullet injuries or caught fire,” he said.

A 50-year-old man identified as U Aung Tun Thar and a 70-year-old woman were killed.

U Hla Nu from Phar Pyo village said villagers fled to neighbouring Ann Thar and Thay Kan villages when they heard gunfire and saw homes go up in flames.

“We feel so sad as houses were set on fire. We are worried that they might come again into the village and set houses a fire,” he said.

DMG phoned the military’s Western Command spokesperson, Colonel Win Zaw Oo, and the Tatmadaw True News Information Team’s Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun for comment, but they could not be reached.

The Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army ethnic armed group fought fiercely near the village of Phar Pyo last month.