October 21, 2021
A resident of Wawlay village in northern Myawaddy Township, Karen State, was injured when he was hit by a landmine allegedly planted by military council troops at around 11 am on October 20, a Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) official said.
The incidnet occurred about 100 yards outside the village when U Kyaw Thu village, a 39-year-old man from Aung Mingalar ward in Wawlay village, was on his way to a charcoal kiln.
He was hit almost all over his body, including his back, thigh, head and ears.
He sufferred about 20 wounds and is currently receiving medical attention at the public clinic in Wawlay.
“It happened this morning around 11 am. He lives in Aung Mingalar ward. His name is Kyaw Thu, 39 years old. The place where it happened is about 300 yards from the strategic hilltop of the military council. He was hit by the landmine when he was on his way to the charcoal kiln, which is about 100 yards away from the village. They have always used this path before. The explosion hit him all over his body. He had 20 wounds on his back and lower part of his body, also on his head and ears. He was not killed just because he was a little further from the bomb. He is now receiving medical treatment at the Wawlay public clinic,” he said.
The KNLA official added that the junta troops planted the mines near the villages after Capt. Sann Yu, commander of the 2nd military column of the 555th Light Infantry Battalion, was arrested by KNLA members on March 21.
“The KNLA had already warned residents not to go near villages where junta troops are stationed. They [junta soldiers] should have at least warned villagers when they planted mines in the area. In the past, they had never planted mines. But they started doing so shortly after Captain Sann Yu was arrested during the capture of the Mawkhee camp,” the KNLA official added.
Also on September 10, KNLA forces captured six junta soldiers, including an officer, from a military council vehicle loaded with weapons and ammunition in southern Myawaddy on the Hpalu-Wawlay road section. The regime then attacked KNLA forces with aircraft, injuring one member.
Currently, fighting takes place almost daily in the areas, while the regime suffers heavy losses and its members are arrested. In addition, defections from the junta’s side occur almost every month, according to Cobra Column combat reports.
Sent by KIC.
