An armed man was killed in a shooting incident involving troops from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) in Joul Jablu village near Payathonzu Town, Kyainseikgyi Township, Karen state, along the Thai-Myanmar border.
At approximately 7 p.m. on March 2nd, a shooting broke out between DKBA troops and a 55-year-old man, Nai Mon Chan, at a funeral house in the village.
During the incident, two DKBA soldiers were injured by gunfire from Nai Mon Chan. In return, DKBA troops shot back, and Nai Mon Chan died at the scene after being hit twice.
“It was a lunar eclipse day, and Nai Mon Chan fired his gun. The village administrator reported it to the DKBA, who came to arrest him. He agreed to go with them but asked to step outside. Then, he pulled out a gun and shot at the DKBA troops, who returned fire and hit him,” said a resident of Payathonzu.
During the shooting, a resident was also injured. The injured person and the two DKBA soldiers were taken to a hospital in Kyeinchaung village near Payathonzu for medical treatment.
Local charity groups took the body of Nai Mon Chan to the main hospital in Payathonzu town, and his family held the funeral on March 4th, the resident added.
In Payathonzu town, armed groups including the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), and the New Mon State Party (NMSP), emerged after the coup. They are all active and shooting incidents often occur.
