Seven women from Bu Taung village in northern Banmauk Township in the upper Sagaing Region were hit by a landmine while searching for mushrooms in a forested area, killing two women and seriously injuring one, according to local sources.
A family member of one of the mine victims said the incident occurred on the morning of 12 June in a forested area called Ka Nyin Pin Su, located between the logging road between Bu Taung village and Nant Mar village in Banmauk.
“They had already gathered some mushrooms. After piling up the mushrooms, they decided to go back down to look for mushroom spores. In fact, they had been there before. On the way back up, they were hit by the landmine. Of the seven women, three were hit,” said a family member of the mine victim.
Of the seven local women who were searching for mushrooms in Ka Nyin Pin Su woods, Daw Ei Than and Daw Ma Sein died instantly as a result of the landmine blast. Daw Cho Cho Myint suffered serious injuries and is still receiving medical treatment at Mandalay General Hospital.
Daw Cho Cho Myint suffered injuries to her ankle and knee and is being treated with steel implants. As of 30 June, she was still in the hospital receiving medical treatment.
“She is still in that condition. I don’t yet know when she will be discharged from hospital. But her condition is good,” said a person close to Daw Cho Cho Myint’s family.
It is not yet known which group planted the landmine in the northern part of Banmauk Township, as no group has claimed responsibility or issued a statement.
According to locals, the area where the landmine incident occurred and its surroundings are frequented by the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA), the People’s Defense Force-Banmauk and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Military junta columns have also passed through the area in the past.
According to records, at least 10 locals have died from landmines planted by armed groups in the southern, northern and western parts of Banmauk Township in the past two years.
Sent by Shanni Voice.