In Rakhine State, the escalating danger of landmines planted by' Junta forces is on the rise, leading to critical injuries for two men, a woman and student across Kyaukphyu, Ann, and Taungup townships within a mere two-day period.

At around 8:30 am on May 7, U Tun Naing (45) encountered a landmine planted by Junta forces along the forest road of Phayar Kone in Kyaukphyu Taung while he was en route to cut bamboo, resulting in the amputation of his left leg below the knee.

"He accidentally stepped on a landmine laid by the Junta troops while he was alone cutting bamboo, leading to the loss of his left leg and sustaining injuries all over his body”, a local reported. U Tun Naing is currently receiving emergency medical treatments.

In a separate incident, around 8:00 am on May 6, Daw Khin Than Hlaing (48) from Kan Paing ward, Taungup Township, accidentally stepped on a landmine while searching for vegetables with two family members near an old burial mountain, next to a military outpost in front of the Taungup Blood Donor Association office, leading to the loss of her left leg.

A teenage Chin student also lost his left leg after stepping on a landmine planted by Junta forces while he was picking cashews around 5:00 pm on May 6, a Kyarmoung village resident told Narinjara. The boy who stepped on the landmine was identified as Maung La Yaung Min (15) from that village.

"He stepped on a landmine while heading to pick cashews from his own farm. He is a Chin boy and in 9th grade. There is an oil pipeline about one and a half furlongs away from Kyarmoung village. Junta forces have placed landmines on inter-village routes, especially along roads near the oil pipeline, to prevent enemy approach. We have heard they also planted landmines near many villages along the pipeline”, the source said.

About a week before, on April 30 at approximately 6:00 AM, U Maung Aye (75) lost one of his legs after stepping on a landmine while picking cashews at a cashew plantation in Ngaletkya village, Ann Township, as reported by residents.

Because of the presence of landmines and other life-threatening ordnance in Rakhine, locals engaged in everyday activities like fishing, searching for vegetables, and cutting bamboo are encountering landmines nearly every day across different townships. This underscores the critical necessity for heightened awareness about the dangers posed by landmines.