Hnin Nwe Ni — Some unexploded shells were recovered in Sittwe, the capital city of Rakhine State, on 7 March. The junta forces are suspected to fire those shells in a hospital premise and  some remain unexploded.

A resident of Sittwe informed that at least  one shell fell behind the Buddhist University of Mrauk U Sayadaw, near the police station no 12 at around 5 am.

The shell was shifted by the police personnel who arrived at the location. An unexploded shell was also found near the State attorney general’s office, which is close to the State general administrator’s office in Sittwe.

The residents revealed that two unexploded shells were found. One was seen behind the State attorney general’s office and the other one near Taw Kyaung monastery in Sat Yok ward.

Some shells also hit the medical warehouse at Sittwe hospital causing a small fire. Some broken parts of the bombs fell at the irrigation department office and near the no 4 high school.

There is speculation who fired the  shells with maximum probability gone in favour of the junta forces. The Arakan Army (AA) has not issued any statement over the incident.

Meanwhile, the recovery of artillery shells in Sittwe has raised concerns among the  residents.

The AA fighters and junta forces have been engaging  in intense gun fighting covering nearly 15 locations outside the city areas. The Sittwe-based battalions fired artillery shells on Pauktaw and Ponnagyun townships, prompting the  AA fighters to respond, targeting the military installations.

The residents could hear the sound of  artillery firing from the 36th police battalion near Sittwe University targeting Pauktaw locality on 8 March and they expressed concern over the situation. The unexploded bomb was found as  the junta soldiers had engaged in aerial bombing in those localities.