8 Aung Bala villagers killed during intense fighting in Maungdaw

Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 7 September 2024

The junta forces and their allied Rohingya armed groups killed eight residents of  Aung Bala (Arakanese) village in  Shwe Zar village-tract under  Maungdaw town, located on the western border of Arakan State, said local residents.

“They were killed in intense fighting during 11 July. We’ve heard that eight people were killed,” said a local resident.

The victims are identified as U Kyaw Naing (38), Ko Ah Hla Chey (27), U San Hla Tun (50), U Kyaw Sein Chey (56, a former administrator), U Tun Win (54), U Khin Maung Chey (49), U Mae Taung Chey (82) and his wife Daw Ma Saw Phyu (73).

Among them, U Khin Maung Chey, U Mae Taung Chey and his wife Daw Ma Saw Phyu were burned to death in their house.

Aung Bala is a small village of fishermen with 127 houses and a population of about 800.

“While U Khin Maung Chey was sleeping, the junta forces and Rohingya armed groups shot him and set his house on fire. U Mae Taung Chey and his wife Daw Ma Saw Phyu were trapped in the burning house,” said another  resident.

More than 100 junta soldiers and military-trained Muslim rebels entered Aung Bala village at around 10  am on 11 July, where they brutally killed the villagers who could not escape and set their houses on fire.

“The Arakan Army (AA) needs to investigate these incidents. Many civilians were killed, including Arakanese, Muslims, Hindus and Mro people,” added the resident.

Regarding the incident, Narinjara News has communicated  AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha for his comment.