Myanmar army shelling injures five in northern Shan State

Five civilians, including three children, were injured by Myanmar army shelling in northern Shan State on Tuesday, according to sources in the area.

The incident occurred a day after the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) intercepted a 14-vehicle junta convoy near Nam Hpat Kar, a town on the Muse-Kutkai highway, sources said.

Fighting triggered by that attack continued late into the next day, when an airstrike brought it to an end at around 5pm, a local woman told Myanmar Now.

“The clashes went on all day. The military launched an airstrike in the evening, and also fired heavy artillery from their base in Nam Hpat Kar,” she said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to the woman, the fighting was centred on an area under the control of KIA Battalion 9.

About two hours after the clash near Nam Hpat Kar ended,

hostilities resumed after the KIA attacked a junta tactical base in Kutkai, some 45km to the south, sources there said.

Several artillery shells fired by the military in response to that attack landed in the nearby village of Maw Hit, injuring five residents, according to a woman who assisted the victims.

“We sent two of them to the hospital and went back to pick up the others, but they said their injuries were minor and didn’t want to go to the hospital. More shells fell while we were talking, so we just turned back,” said the woman.

The two who were hospitalised were identified as Pyae Phyo, 33, and seven-year-old Naw San Nan. The others were Khaung Naw, 72, Sai Khun Nan, 12, and Bran Htoi Nan, 3.

Residents said that Myanmar army shells also destroyed several houses and vehicles in the village.

According to local news outlets, the situation in the area remains tense, as additional junta troops have been deployed to secure the Muse-Kutkai highway.

A clash between the KIA and regime forces was also reported on Monday near Man Pying, a village located south of Kutkai on the highway linking it to the town of Hseni.

Spokespersons for the military and the KIA did not respond to requests for information when contacted by Myanmar Now.

Three of the KIA’s 10 brigades are based in northern Shan State. The group has also clashed with regime forces in Kachin State and Sagaing Region, often in coordination with anti-junta groups formed since last year’s coup.