Narinjara News, May 14, 2025 

Two 10-year-old Thet ethnic kids were killed and a 75-year-old Rakhine man was hurt when a hand grenade exploded during their play in Makyi Kone village, 4 miles from Maungdaw Township on the western border of Rakhine State. 

A local from Makyi Kone Village stated, "The kids were playing with a grenade they found. The explosive device detonated. One of them passed away instantly. The other individual was hurried to the hospital for urgent care. He passed away during the journey. An aged Rakhine man who had come back from tending to his cattle was also badly hurt. He is undergoing urgent medical care. 

The child who passed away at the scene was recognized as Maung Thet Cho, 8, the son of U Maung Nyunt, while Maung Chit Aung, 10, the son of Daw Ma Kyawt Chey, succumbed to injuries en route to the hospital. 

The two kids from Makyi Kone village were playing with a hand grenade they found in the woods east of the village at about 1pm on May 8 when the grenade detonated. 

The person hurt is U Aung Thet Htun, 75. 

U Aung Thet Htun’s daughter mentioned, “My father returned after tending to the cows. He resided a considerable distance from the location of the grenade detonation. If not, he would have perished. He is presently undergoing treatment at home. Nevertheless, he is struggling to obtain hospital treatment as he cannot pay for it. Up to this point, no human rights group has arrived to document or offer assistance. 

Makyi Kone village, situated 4 miles from Maungdaw, has around 250 households and is primarily populated by the Thet and Rakhine ethnic communities. 

The Arakan People's Revolutionary Government, affiliated with ULA/AA, has been holding awareness lectures on mines and unexploded ordnance, installing warning signs in Rakhine State, distributing pamphlets on mine awareness, and engaging in mine clearance efforts. 

Nevertheless, certain local residents are disregarding the regulations, frequently causing such explosions, resulting in fatalities and injuries. 

Photo: U Aung Thet Htun, injured by grenade shrapnel