Eleven Monywa Township civilians from Sagaing Region were reportedly killed by Myanmar junta shelling on Tuesday.
Residents said 60mm shells exploded in Hta Naung Taw village market near Monywa on Tuesday morning, killing three men and eight women.
The victims were identified as Daw Htay Myint, 50, Ma Myint Soe, 40, Daw Mar Mar Htay, 45, Ma Htet Shwe Zin, 14, Ma Ei Maw, 42, Ma Yin Aye, 43, Ma Lone Lone, 20, Ma Khaing Shwe Wah, 36, Ko Htun Win, 41, Naing Ko Khant, 22, and Ko Linn, 31. More than 20 people were injured.
Hta Naung Taw is between the Mandalay-Monywa highway and the Chindwin River around 20 minutes’ drive from the regional capital, Monywa.
“It happened when female residents normally go to the market. The regime fires shells almost every day in all directions from a base in Monywa,” a Hta Naung Taw villager told The Irrawaddy.
Residents said troops at the Ma Eu gate in Monywa have been shelling surrounding villages since June last year, although no resistance activity has been reported in the area.
Monywa is where the regime’s Northwestern Command is stationed. Resistance forces seized four Sagaing Region towns late last year: Shwe Pyi Aye, Maw Lu, Khampat and Kawlin. Kawlin was retaken by the junta on February 12 after 10 days of fighting. The liberated towns have been heavily bombarded.
The troops at Ma Eu gate also shelled Lal Taw village near Monywa on Tuesday, injuring two civilians and killing a cow.
On August 10 and 11, they shelled Lin Boe village, killing two civilians and causing 10 injuries, according to Mandalay-Amyint information, which is working with resistance forces.
Monywa shelling since June has caused 14 civilian deaths and 51 injuries, the group said.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, 5,501 people have been killed by the junta since the 2021 coup.
