Myanmar army troops have set fire to Bonebweit village in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region, during clashes with local defense forces, killing one civilian, according to locals.
A column of about 50 regime soldiers entered Bonebweit and set fire to the village at about 2:38 pm and again at 4 pm, locals reported.
An official from the local defense forces said, “There were 30-40 soldiers on vehicles heading to Shwebo. We were waiting for their column in the morning. With further reinforcement, they were a column of 70-80 soldiers. Then we clashed with them. We engaged in an exchange of fire.”
In a skirmish between junta troops and local defense forces between Shwebo and Bonebweit, a civilian was hit and killed around 3 pm on 25 March.
“He was taken away in an ambulance. I saw it twice. Junta soldiers were riding on civilian cars. When they were attacked, the civilian was killed and the junta soldiers were also wounded. I don’t know exactly how many there were,” said a Shwebo resident.
Shwebo residents said that the innocent civilian who passed the road without being aware of the situation was used as a human shield by the military council troops and was subsequently killed.
According to reports, the regime column set fire to Bonebweit village twice in the same day, forcing the villagers to run for safety. The number of houses destroyed in the arson attacks could not be verified.
In light of similar military activity on the ground, local defense forces warned people not to use the section of the Mandalay-Shwebo Road between Ohntaw and Sartaung villages.
Sent by NMG.
