Eight civilians were killed when artillery shells from the military junta’s 602 Missile Battalion hit Pyin Ka Doe Kone village in Kyaikto Township, Mon state, according to local sources.
The incident, which occurred on 23 July, resulted in the deaths of eight people – seven men, including two 18-year-olds, and one woman. At least six others were also injured, according to locals.
A Kyaikto local said that after the clash between junta troops and joint resistance forces near Kyauk Tan Lay in Pyin Ka Doe Kone village tract, the junta troops fired artillery indiscriminately towards Thein Za Yat and Kyauk Tan Lay villages.
“They fire shells almost every day for no reason. Many locals have been killed by the shelling. They were often forced to flee their homes and then return. They often shell the villages with artillery before carrying out raids there. Even when they don’t, they keep firing,” said the resident.
The resident added that even without fighting, the junta troops often shell villages with artillery for the alleged presence of resistance forces.
Since early July, there have been arrests of civilians, killings and artillery shelling during raids. As a result, the number of civilian casualties in Kyaikto Township have increased, according to local sources.
At least seven nearby villages, including Inn Ga Bo, Kan Ni and Kyauk Tan Lay villages, reportedly remain displaced due to indiscriminate artillery shelling, with no military operations or clashes between the two sides.
According to Lagoon Eain, at least 10 civilians were killed and 26 injured due to various human rights violations in Mon State in June, including the explosion of artillery shells fired by the military junta troops.
Sent by IMNA.