The junta forces are reportedly planting landmines inthe forests and mountains of Thandwe township of Rakhine State, which areotherwise crucial for the livelihood of local residents.

A local woman informed Narinjara News that the juntasoldiers planted landmines in the forest areas near Pa Yit and Yay Kauk oldvillages, which are approximately 30 miles away from town. Moreover  BaukTaung mountain of  Thandwe townshipis also used for planting mines.

"I witnessed the soldiers digging and planting landmines. We do not dareto go to those areas," she added.

The soldiers are planting landmines to target theArakan Army fighters in the jingles, but they are actually putting the localpopulation in troubles.

"The soldiers suspect that many AA fighters are inside the forest andhence they have planted landmines.In Kyaukphyu, the landmines are frequentlytriggered making it unsafe for the locals to traverse the area,” said aresident of Thandwe.

A  Thandwe farmer claimed that the landmines inthe forest-mountains emerge as a great concern to the local people who areworking in gardens, betel plantations, paddy field and forests.

“Nobody dares to enter the forest. Those who survivedcollecting firewood, working in betel plantations and paddy fields, now feelscared to go inside the forest,” added the farmer.

On 10 April at around 3:30 pm, the local residentsreported that they heard the sound of small arms firing from the mountains inthe west of the junta's Bar Taung checkpoint long the Thandwe-Taungup route.

According to a list compiled by Narinjara News, tenpeople lost their legs and two  others were otherwise injured afterstepping on landmines in Rakhine State from 3 March to 9 April.