Artillery shell explosion in Sittwe kills 5 Muslims, injures many children

An artillery shell, fired by the junta forces, exploded in a residential area under Sittwe township of Rakhine State on Saturday night and it resulted in killing of five  Muslims and injuring 10 others with five children.

A female health worker in Sittwe general hospital stated, "I've just returned from the hospital. Five people died instantly and over ten including five children were injured. A couple died and their children also sustained injuries. It's heartbreaking to witness and narrate."

On 9 March at around 11 pm, the artillery shell was deliberately fired by the junta's police battalion that exploded in Aung Mingalar Muslim ward of  Sittwe.

A politician from Sittwe alleged that the  junta was  sowing seeds of ethnic and religious discord in the Rakhine region. The junta forces have a strong presence in and around Sittwe. Many military bases and naval ships are stationed in the river. The soldiers are responsible for the crime.

As the night time curfew is imposed in Sittwe, the civilians refrain from going outside during the night hours. Three military vehicles recently entered the area where the artillery shell exploded. The residents informed that the deceased individuals were even taken away from the hospital by ambulances.

A female resident, while expressing serious concern, stated that the situation remains alarming in Sittwe. Many  civilians were killed by the  junta’s artillery shelling on urban areas.

"I thought initially it was Kathea village where the artillery shell landed. It fell on Aung Mingalar near Kathea village. The residents are extremely worried over the situation,” she added.

Narinjara News attempted to contact Rakhine State security and border affairs minister colonel Kyaw Thura and Rakhine State military council spokesperson U Hla Thein regarding the incident, but they did not answer the phone calls.

UNOCHA Myanmar released a statement on 4 March indicating that an artillery shell exploded near Korean port bazaar in Sittwe at  8:10 am on 29 February, which killed 21 innocent civilians and injured  30 others.

The residents claimed that the shooting was a deliberate attack by the soldiers from  a naval vessel towards the crowded bazaar.

With the military junta facing setbacks in the Rakhine region,  it has spiralled attacks on civilians intensifying airstrikes and artillery shelling on homes, markets, schools, hospitals, and clinics in the town areas.