Narinjara News, 5 February 2023

A drunken man suddenly pulled the detonator of a grenade at a grocery shop inKon Dan Kying Chaung village under Ponna Kyunt township on Friday and theexplosion killed two children and injured four other individuals.

The victims have been identified as Maung Ne Lin Htay (12 years old) and MaungTin Maung Soe (12). Both were 7th grade students.

Two other 7th grade students namely Maung Min Thant Kyaw and Maung Myo LinNaing also sustained injuries. Similarly, the grocery shop owner U Aye Tun Hla(52) and Amung Che (31), who created the troubles, were also injured.

"The incident took place at around 9 pm on 3 February last. The fully drunkAmung Che brought a grenade from an unknown place into the shop and suddenlypulled the trigger. Many people were in the shop at that time. Two schoolchildren died on the way to the hospital and two
other students sustained injuries,” said an eye witness.

Another person who assisted the injured children to shift to the Ponna Kyuntpublic hospital informed that one of the injured children is still in acritical condition.

As Maung Min Thant Kyaw received no serious injury, he wasallowed to go back home from the hospital. Aye Tun Hla and Amung Che are also recoveringin the hospital.

Bodies of the dead children were brought back to the village for cremation inthe community graveyard. Maung Ne Lin Htay, who died in the accidental blast,wanted to become a monk in future.

"It's really sad news. How do you think that such a tragedy will happen toMaung Ne Lin Htay!” he added.

One can observe that many dangerous items like grenades, bombs, motor bullets,etc are found in various places of Rakhine State, particularly where the juntasoldiers and Arakan Army members fought gun battles.

Frequent deaths due to the careless use of those items are reported from thoseplaces. The AA is advised to seize all those items and also take actionsagainst those who kept many of remnants in their houses.

On 2 February, Maung Kyaw Soe (13, a 5th grade student from Kha Moite villagein northern Maungdaw) was killed by a remnant bomb explosion while he wastrapping  birds in the mountain jungles near his village.

Earlier on 17 January, a young man from Nadin village under Mrauk U townshipfaced a landmine explosion as he was cutting woods in the jungle and his rightleg was to be amputated.

On 26 January, four teenage boys from from Po Khao Chong(Muslim) village under Buthidaung township were cutting firewood and suddenly alandmine exploded. One boy was killed in the explosion and the others wereseriously injured.

Despite a cease-fire is going on in Rakhine State, continued casualties andinjury to individuals because of landmine & military remnants explosionsare frequently reported.

The locals want the concerned armed organizations to clearup the landmines and military weapon remnants so that the loss of lives can beprevented. They also advocate for a better public awareness over the matter.