This morning, an artillery shell fired byMilitary Council troops landed and exploded in the compound of the generalhospital in Paletwa Township, Chin State, causing injury to a child aged 6 or 7.

Residents of Paletwa Township reported that anartillery shell, fired by the 289th Infantry Battalion stationed in PaletwaTownship, landed on the staff dormitory near the hospital in Myo Ma Ward ataround 11:00 a.m. on December 8.

A young resident of Paletwa said, "Theartillery shell landed on the staff dormitory in the hospital, causing the roofto blow open. The 289th Infantry Battalion is engaged in firing artilleryshells at the war zones, and they end up landing in the town."

A resident of Paletwa stated that the injuriessustained by the child were severe, and there were not many other peopleinjured.

"An RPG round struck the staff dormitorywest of the hospital. Fortunately, there are not many reported injuries.Concern arises when incidents like this occur in the town. In the past, therehas been no precedent for such incidents," stated the resident.

Residents said that the 289th InfantryBattalion, stationed in Paletwa Township, fired artillery shells approximatelyhalf an hour before one of the shells struck the general hospital in PaletwaTownship. Following the explosion of an artillery shell within the hospitalcompound, the sound of artillery shells ceased.

On December 4, the Arakan Army (AA) capturedthe Tarunaing Tactical Operation Command in Paletwa Township. Following this,the AA launched an attack on another tactical operation command, the HnonebuTactical Operation Command, and the echoes of artillery shells and airstrikesfrom the conflict can be heard in the Paletwa urban area.