March 9th, 2022
Six civilians including the children were killed by the artillery shelling in Yinmarbin Township in Sagaing Region.
“Since 9 am till the evening of March 8th, fighting was taking place between local People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) and the junta troops in the township. Some civilians were killed by the heavy weapons fired by the military council troops into the village,” an official of the PDF said.
Ko Khant, an in-charge from Naungtaw PDF said: “A total of 13 innocent civilians from Letpantaw village were hit by the enemy’s heavy shells. They were seriously injured. Six of 13 injuried persons were killed. Among those killed are the elderly, a nine-year-old child and a four-year-old child.
The victims died when they were taking shelter in the compound of a monastery in Letpantaw village.
The victims are: Maung Hmat Gyi,4, Maung Swan Htet Naing, 9, Daw Tin Nyunt,90, U Than Maung, 80, Daw Thein Hla, 70, and Daw Moet Moet Win, 30, according to locals.
In addition to the civilian deaths, some houses and schools were burnt down in the fighting, he continued.
“At present, fighting continues. The junta troops burned some houses and schools in Kanthar Letpantaw village. The military council is carrying out the persistent firing of heavy weapons,” he added.
As fighting continues, it is not exactly known how many houses the military burned, locals said.
“There were clashes near Kanthar Letpantaw village in Yinmarbin Township this morning. The enemy’s military column consists of around 300 soldiers. Our combined forces are Naungtaw PDF, Golden Triangle Force from Kani Township, Local PDF from Yinmarbin Township and the PDF led by Bo Thurein from Yinmarbin Township. It is a big clash. Fighting continues till now, he told the Network Media Group, at around 5 pm.
There were no reports of casualties from a combined force of the PDFs. The military council may suffer casualties. But the exact number of casualties from the junta troops is still unknown, he continued.
The military council has not released any statement about the fighting yet.
On March 4th, 14 soldiers of the military council were killed in an ambush attack on a military column by local PDF near Bantbway village in Yinmarbin Township, officials of local PDF.
Sent by the NMG.