Three civilians travelling on the Leiktho-Thandaung-Taungoo road in Thandaunggyi Township, Taungoo District, which is under the control of Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 2 Area, have been killed by military junta troops, with some others also arrested, according to local sources.
The KNU Brigade 2 closed this road indefinitely to traffic on 1 May. However, according to residents of Thandaunggyi and Leiktho, some locals have continued to risk using the road for matters related to school, trade, and food supply.
In late May, 14 Leiktho residents traveling from Leiktho to Taungoo were arrested by junta troops near Htone Bo Gyi village. Subsequently, the bodies of two men were found dead by the roadside, according to local passersby who witnessed the scene.
A Leiktho resident said: “There are people who transport turmeric from Leiktho to Taungoo to sell and then buy rice to bring back. Around last week, the junta troops arrested people near Htone Bo Gyi and checked their phones. They checked many people and arrested a total of 14 people. Some were released after their families went to bail them out. We found out about the two young men who died only when their bodies were found dumped by the roadside at Htone Bo Gyi.”
Similarly, a woman residing in Thandaunggyi said that junta troops shot at two civilians riding a motorcycle from Thandaunggyi to Taungoo, killing one and injuring the other.
“We heard about arrests and killings at Htone Bo Gyi. Here in Thandaunggyi, there was also a case involving two people. When the soldiers stopped them, they were scared and didn’t dare to stop. So, they shot from behind, killing one person and injuring another. This happened near Sa Nay Kone near Shwe Nyang Pin [village]. There are junta troops on the road, doing patrols and jungle searches. They weren’t shot at a junta checkpoint,” she said.
The exact number of civilians arrested by the junta and how many have been released since late May until June is still being investigated.
Despite the road closure leading to commodity shortages and high prices in the area, residents say that KNU Brigade 2 occasionally permits motorcycles for those with urgent travel needs.
In late May, the junta reinforced their base at Htone Bo Gyi with a large number of troops.
Currently, security around the camp remains tight, with ongoing inspections, according to sources in Taungoo District, which monitors movements of the junta troops.
Sent by KIC.