It has been reported that the Arakan Army (AA)-controlled Pauktaw Township has been shelled with heavy weapons by military battalions and warships based in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, for approximately five days.

The shelling is being carried out by Police Battalion (12), located near the Sat Yok relief area in Sittwe, as well as by the Navy at the Shwe Min Gan and Point naval bases. The main targets of these attacks are Thekhon villlage and NgapreKyunt in Pauktaw Township.

A Sittwe resident said, “There has been shelling in the morning and at night for about five days. The sound of the heavy weapons is so loud. It makes my chest tremble.”

He added that between May 24th and May 28th, the Sittwe Police Battalion (12) and the Navy continuously fired heavy weapons at Thekhon and Ngapre Kyunt, which are located on the opposite side of the Kaladan River, east of Sittwe.

A woman resident also told Narinjara that on May 28th, at around 8:00 a.m., Police Battalion (12) fired four heavy artillery rounds toward these same areas.

In recent days, smoke has been seen rising from the sand dunes due to the heavy artillery impacts. “The other day, when I was walking along the shore, I saw smoke coming from Thekhon village,” the resident said.

Previously, on May 21st at around 3:30 p.m., residents reported that Police Battalion (12), a naval vessel in the river, and other stationed battalions fired approximately 15 artillery shells towards the village of Thekhon.

Ongoing fighting persists between the AA and the Myanmar military near Sittwe. Residents noted that the Myanmar military frequently bombards civilian areas and resorts to artillery fire whenever there is a major escalation in the fighting.