At least five civilians were killed in a week-long battle between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the military council in Namphatkar village in Kutkai Township of Shan State.
Local residents of Namphatkar said that at least 5 civilians were killed due to heavy shelling and aerial bombardment by the military council during the KIA’s offensive that started on 29 December to capture Light Infantry Battalion-123 based in Namphatkar.
“A Chinese family in ward-4 was having a meal when a bomb hit the house. Three family members died. Another one died on the spot when looking at the plane. It brought the total number of deaths to four. I don’t know exactly when they died. Fighting started at 6:30 am on 29 December,” a local woman from Namphatkar said.
On 1 January, a 60-year-old woman died from smoke inhalation while lighting a fire in a trench, the local woman added.
Residents said that the Kachin Baptist (original) church in Ward (1) Tharayakone was hit by heavy weapons and aerial bombardment by the Namphatkar-based military council’s Light Infantry Battalion-123, and the Panjarop monastery and many homes were also burnt down.
“Manay houses were burnt down in Namphatkar. There is only a pole left at Panjarop Monastery. It is in front of the military camp. The LIB-123 is located there. Kachin church was hit by heavy shells in Tharyarkone ward No.1. There may be many wounded persons,” a local woman said.
In addition, due to the intense fighting between the Three Brotherhood Alliance and the military council, Kutkai General Hospital has been closed for security reasons since 4 January. According to Kutkai Township social associations, the patients and doctors were moved to Kaung Kha Station Hospital.
During over two months of Operation 1027, the military council’s shelling and aerial bombardments killed 25 civilians including seven women and six children and wounded more than 50 others and destroyed more than 70 houses, monasteries and churches in Kutkai Township.
Sent by Shan News