Military regime’s troops killed at least three civilians in Mandalay Region’s Myitnge town during raids into neighborhoods on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, marking the first violent deaths the town since the coup.
Two men from Yankin ward were killed after being shot in the chest on the eve of Myanmar’s traditional New Year Festival or Thingyan. The casualty toll could be higher. Some reported that as many as five were killed.
Regime forces opened fire on residents at noon on Tuesday while looting public donations that were intended for the town’s striking railway staff. The donations had been kept at a monastery.
During the gunfire, more than a dozen were wounded, according to a resident who was involved in the rescue of the wounded.
A pro-democracy protester from Myitnge who went into hiding after the raid, said a protest leader in town and four civilians, including a 15-year-old boy who had been hiding beneath a house, were abducted during the raid.
He also said that a young man was also severely injured when he was hit by a police van. Residents who surrounded the police station after the incident were also violently dispersed.
On Wednesday afternoon, another man was shot dead and one was wounded when troops opened fire during a raid in Thazin ward. According to locals, soldiers and police raided a mosque and reportedly took donations away.
A small town, Myitnge had staged anti-regime protests daily against the military regime.
In Yangon region, U Nyein Htet, 44, was shot dead by regime forces while he was waiting for a bus at the MinLan bus stop in Bahan Township on the eve of Thingyan.
The shooting happened around 5 p.m. Soldiers and police were stopping passing vehicles on U Chit Maung Road as they conducted inspections after a series of explosions. Troops fired at a car that drove away and hit U Nyein Htet as he waited for the bus. His body was taken away and later returned to the family.
He leaves behind his wife and two daughters, aged 8 and 14.
A series of explosions rocked several locations in Yangon including a ward administration office in South Okkalapa Township, near a park in Sanchaung Township, and near Thamine junction in Mayangone Township.
The regime claimed through its controlled state-run TV that “rioters”—the military’s euphemism for anti-regime protesters—are attacking government offices and public buildings.
Other explosions occurred at a ward administration office Mawlamyine, near Monywa University in Monywa, and at a township administration office in Taunghtar, the regime’s state-run TV reported. No casualties were reported in the explosions.
Since the Feb. 1 coup, the regime forces have killed at least 718 people and arrested more than 3,000 people.
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