Junta forces launch airstrikes on Arakanese villages in southern Maungdaw, young woman activist killed, 5 others injured

Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 21 May 2024

The junta forces conducted night time airstrikes on two Arakanese villages namely Shwe Baho and Tha Ray Kone Baung killing a young woman activist on the spot  and at least 5 others sustained injuries.

The  airstrikes are unrelated to the fighting where the 2nd border guard police battalion based in 4-mile of Maungdaw faced a heavy loss, said the local residents.

The victim is identified as  Ma Pann Ei Phyu (25), who had fled from Maungdaw urban area to Shwe Baho village due to the conflict. Her father was also injured in the incident.

"At around 4 am, the junta soldiers dropped three bombs using jet fighters. Two bombs fell on Shwe Baho village and another one landed on Tha Ray Kone Baung village. The villagers were sleeping at that time. The lady member of Maungdaw Garuna Network social welfare died instantly,” added a resident.

Both the  affected villages are situated south of Maungdaw. The villagers stated that there was no fighting in their areas.

A local woman informed that Ma Pann Ei Phyu’s family members including her father U Kyaw Thein Khaing and brother U Kyaw Min Tun took shelter in Shwe Baho village.

"The junta soldiers used two  jet fighters. One bomb was even dropped among villages near the 2nd battalion based at 4-mile," she added.

Narinjara News will continue reporting on casualties and damages in both the villages.

On 19 May, a jet fighter dropped three bombs on Tha Ray Kone Baung village in southern Maungdaw, which injured two villagers and damaged five houses.

On 14 May, two jet fighters dropped bombs on Kin Chaung Arakanese village in southern Maungdaw resulting in the death of three local residents and serious injuries to six others.

According to the latest information, the junta’s airstrikes also hit  Ngwe Taung village library and injured several residents.