Casualties were reported after a convoy of vehicles carrying family members of junta soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 321 (Shwe Nyaung Pin) – the garrison of Waingmaw town in Kachin State – and tissue culture banana plantation workers released by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) came under fire near Khat Cho village at the entrance to Waingmaw.
Around 100 people, including families of junta troops captured by the KIA and some tissue culture banana plantation workers, were entering Waingmaw Township late in the evening of 26 May when they came under fire, according to locals in Waingmaw.
More than 20 people were injured by artillery shells in the attack. On the morning of 27 May, social aid groups in Waingmaw managed to rescue them, according to Ven. Wizaya, the abbot of War Shawng Monastery.
“We rescued 23 people this morning. One named Chit Oo Maung died only after he made it here. Some say there were 100 people in the vehicles, others say 60. They were hit by artillery and scattered across the scene,” said the abbot of War Shawng.
The convoy, which consisted of a truck carrying about 100 tissue culture banana plantation workers, three four-wheel cars and 10 motorcycles accompanying the released families of junta troops, came under fire as it entered Waingmaw, according to local social welfare groups.
Some were killed on the spot in the attack, while others managed to escape. Social aid groups managed to rescue 23 injured people.
The KIA had released the families of the junta troops on the afternoon of 26 May. However, according to a local close to the KIA, they tried to enter Waingmaw during the night, which led to the attack.
“As far as I know, the KIA released them only after interrogating them in the afternoon. But I don’t know why they tried to enter at night. They may have been mistakenly shot at during the night,” he said.
The injured were reportedly taken to a hospital in Myitkyina for medical treatment.
Around 100 people were reportedly in the vehicles transporting the tissue culture banana plantation workers, but only 23 have been confirmed injured so far. The exact number of people killed at the scene and those who escaped remains unknown.
Waingmaw residents believe that the convoy carrying the soldiers’ families was accidentally fired upon by the junta forces at the Khat Cho junction, as Waingmaw is currently under curfew due to the fighting there.
Military tensions in Waingmaw Township remain high, with only IB 58 remaining from the two Shwe Nyaung Pin battalions of LIB 321, which has been stationed as a garrison.
Sent by KNG.