Junta’s artillery shells kill Indian port worker, young student in Paletwa

 A construction worker of an Indian port and a student were killed by the artillery shells, fired by the junta forces, on 3 January in Paletwa of Chin State.

At around 6 pm on Wednesday,  30-year-old Ko Wai Lwin, employed as a construction worker in an Indian port located in the east of Paletwa, was killed by artillery shelling.

An individual, who attended the funeral, said that  Wai Lwin passed away due to severe injuries in his chest and thighs.

"He hailed from Rakhine and  left behind his wife and a child. His injuries were severe in nature. During his cremation, we saw his wounds. No other was injured in the incident,” he added.

Moreover at around 10 pm,  a house in Yeik Khar ward of Paletwa locality was hit by an artillery shell, leading to the tragic death of a 15-year-old student and causing serious injuries to his parents.

Since 1 January, the Arakan Army (AA) has been launching offensives against the junta's bases near Paletwa including the 289^th  and 233^rd infantry battalions.

The clashes near Paletwa continued as the junta forces tried to resist the offensives using artillery shells and small arms. The residents claimed that the soldiers were indiscriminately firing artillery shells over  the residential areas.

Following the disturbances, thousands of local residents in Paletwa fled to safer locations. It began in December, said a Paletwa resident.

"It is no longer safe for us to  stay here because of the artillery shelling. So we are leaving for other places.  Even the telephone lines are not working properly," he added.

Many residents claimed that the soldiers in the 289th battalion continuously fired artillery shells since the morning hours of 4 January.

Following the renewed conflicts in Paletwa, at least five residents were killed, and over 10 people sustained injuries due to the airstrikes and artillery-shell attacks.