A mortar shell fired by the military junta’s 310th Artillery Battalion, based in Theinzayat, exploded in Pyinkatoekone Village, Kyaikto Township, Mon State, killing eight civilians, local sources confirmed.
The incident occurred on July 23 at approximately 9:30 AM, resulting in the deaths of seven men, including two local 18-year-olds, and one woman. Additionally, at least six others were injured, according to reports from the area.
A resident from Kyaikto explained that the shelling targeted Pyinkatoekone and the nearby Kyauktankalay village due to a clash between the junta forces and joint revolutionary forces in the vicinity.
“They fire aimlessly almost every day, causing frequent civilian casualties. People are constantly evacuating and returning. If the military is about to enter the village, they fire mortars in advance, and even when they’re not entering, they still shoot,” the resident said.
The resident further mentioned that the military junta often fires mortars into villages without any clashes occurring, under the pretext that joint revolutionary forces are active in the area.
Since early July, increased incidents of civilian arrests and killings, and mortar shelling during military operations, have led to a rise in civilian casualties in Kyaikto Township.
Indiscriminate mortar shelling by the military junta has forced residents of at least seven villages, including Innkabo, Kanni, and Kyauktankalay, to flee their homes.
According to information released by the LaGonEain Bulletin, in June, at least ten civilians were killed and 26 injured in Mon State due to various human rights violations, including mortar shell explosions caused by the military junta.
