2 matriculation examinees including one female injured in artillery shelling

One male and one female student, who were sitting in the first day’s matriculation examination were injured by an artillery shell fired by the junta forces at  Par Da Leik village under Sittwe township of Rakhine State.

A Sittwe resident informed Narinjara News that the artillery shell landed near Par Da Leik number 7 basic education high school at around 12 noon on 11 March. The shell shrapnel struck the school window and injured both the students who were sitting for new system examinations.

"I'm not sure whether the artillery shell was fired by navy or army personnel. It struck hardly 30 feet away from the school. When  the conclusion bell for the examination rang, the scared students did not leave their place immediately,” added the resident.

The female student sustained injuries to her forehead, while the male one was injured near the waist.

"The boy sustained more serious injuries compared to the girl. Their parents requested the authority to permit them to take the important examination in Sittwe,"  stated the resident.

Both the injured students were taken to the junta's 100-bed military hospital for necessary medical attention.

The military junta's Myanmar Alin newspaper in its 12 March edition claimed that the artillery shelling was carried out by the Arakan Army (AA), which  injured the students after returning from the examination.

Par Da Leik village is situated near the junta's 344th battalion and 232nd battalion as well as number 10 military training school.

The new system matriculation examination in Myanmar will continue till  19 March.