Three migrant fishermen were killed by indiscriminate mortar fire from a military junta battalion based in Khawzar after it came under attack in Ye Township, Mon State. .
According to local residents, at around 9 p.m. on April 5th, a guard post operated by the Light Infantry Battalion No. 31, based in Khawzar, was attacked. The attacking forces included the Mon State Revolutionary Force (MSRF) and allied units, including Battalion No. 8002 of the Kanpauk People’s Defense Force who operate under Strategic Command 33.
Following the attack, the junta battalion responded by firing mortar shells and small arms indiscriminately. As a result, three male fishermen in Mee Taik Htauk village were struck by shrapnel and killed.
A local resident said, “all three were migrant workers who caught crabs and sold them in the village. When they were hit, everyone was too afraid to retrieve the bodies. Only this morning were the bodies collected, and they were already badly damaged,” the resident said.
The three victims were migrant workers living in temporary shelters at the edge of Mee Taik Htauk village.
At around 9 a.m. on April 6, Battalion No. 31 again fired mortar shells again, although no casualties were reported.
“They fired again this morning, so children had to be sent home from school. The sound of gunfire was constant. They may have heard alarming news and fired in response,” another resident said.
The joint revolutionary forces said they are still investigating possible casualties on the junta side following the ambush.
A similar interception attack on junta troops patrolling in Khawzar town was also reported on February 24.
Residents said that Light Infantry Battalion No. 31 frequently carries out indiscriminate mortar and small arms fire whenever it receives reports of movements by revolutionary joint forces, forcing civilians to repeatedly flee their homes.
