Junta raids and indiscriminate shelling have wounded a child and at least three other civilians while forcing about 8,000 villagers to flee in Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region, according to local sources.
A 10-year-old boy was among four civilians hurt when troops based in Ye-U Township fired shells into Khin-U villages this morning, according to a local volunteer.
“They have been shelling since last night. A boy was hit by shrapnel and sustained leg injuries,” the volunteer said.
All of the victims are receiving medical treatment and none has life-threatening injuries, he added.
Villagers said junta troops also opened fire with artillery as they attempted to raid the township’s Inn Pat village. However, the raid failed when regime soldiers ran into a mine ambush laid by resistance forces at the north side of the village.
“Two junta dogs [soldiers] died on the spot and four were injured,” a local resistance member said.
The Irrawaddy was unable to verify the number of junta casualties.
At least 3,000 residents from six villages including Inn Pat fled their villages as a result of the junta raid and bombardments.
“Many people have left their villages because junta forces are deliberately conducting artillery attacks on villages,” a villager said.
Another 100 junta troops and allied Pyu Saw Htee militia raided Ya Than village in southern Khin-U on Wednesday morning to rescue Pyu Saw Htee members who were being detained in the village, according to a local resident.
“At least 25 Pyu Saw Htee members from Hpoke Kone village were arrested by resistance forces a few days ago and they were being detained at Ya Than village,” a villager said.
Sources said junta troops left the village soon after they had rescued the militia members.
About 5,000 people from five villages in southern Khin-U fled their homes on Wednesday and are sheltering at monasteries and schools, according to residents.
Five civilians, including a six-year-old boy, were killed and seven injured in indiscriminate junta shelling in Khin-U last month.
Around 5,500 houses in 75 villages have reportedly been incinerated by junta infantry in the township since the 2021 coup.
