Three women were killed and a man wounded by a regime artillery strike on a internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp near Kutkai in northern Shan State on Friday. The Burma Army (BA) indiscriminately fired shells from a strategic hill camp, striking Zup Awng IDP camp at 10am.
“The shelling happened when there was no clash in the area. When a shell landed in our camp, we were terrified,”a female resident requesting anonymity told KNG.
Lukseint Yaw Lum, 52, Hpawgun Nawhlaing, 56, Zumzam Dawngnor, 28, were killed and Dumhpawng La Awng, 80, suffered injuries.
After the shell attack on the camp, fighting erupted between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and BA in the area. Many children, pregnant women, elderly and others sought refuge in a church in Dawnglon not far from their camp.
According to a KIA officer, they and the People Defence Force clashed with BA troops between Karlai and Hu Nawng villages in the township, which is about 10 miles from Kutkai town and a mile from the IDP camp.
