As a result of the injuries sustained by several civilians due to ongoing shelling from the hills, which house artillery batteries operated by the Military Council troops and are under constant surveillance by drones, a number of local villagers in Indaw Township, Sagaing Region, have been compelled to flee their homes, locals said.
Since early June, the Military Council stationed in Indaw has been conducting frequent and indiscriminate shelling on the villages of Nabar, Kanni, and the surrounding areas, without any apparent justification.
"They are conducting daily artillery barrages. Since June 22nd, they have begun employing drones for reconnaissance and monitoring purposes above the town. It is evident that they intentionally engage in shelling even in the absence of any fighting near Indaw”, a local said.
During the events on June 21st and 22nd, three local civilians were unfortunately injured as a result of the shelling, according to local witnesses.
"On June 21st shelling, a man driving a tricycle was injured when an artillery round fell on the road. The following day, during the bombardment on June 22nd, a woman in her 20s and 5-year-old child sustained injuries when a shell struck a paddy field in Kanni”, a Kanni villager said.
He further stated that the injuries sustained by the woman and child were severe, necessitating their immediate transfer to the hospital. However, their current condition remains unknown.
During the June 21st incident, at approximately 6:00 PM, an artillery shell detonated near Nabar intersection, resulting in the abdominal injury of a 40-year-old man from Pinwei village who was operating a tricycle.
Despite the absence of ongoing fighting in Indaw, the Military Council has been indiscriminately engaging in artillery and small arms fire, causing apprehension among the local population. Consequently, the residents are preemptively evacuating their homes, fearing the onset of actual hostilities.
"It is true that certain villagers have already evacuated their homes. The Military Council's shelling is being carried out without any clear rationale. It appears to be a reactionary and desperate measure due to rumors circulating about the presence of People's Defense Force (PDF) members near the Nabar intersection. However, it should be noted that the civilians' decision to flee is primarily a result of the injuries inflicted upon them due to the shelling, rather than the presence of actual fighting”, a source close to local PDF told NMG.
Due to the implementation of martial law by the Military Council in Indaw, there is a strict prohibition on nighttime traffic between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM. As a consequence, vehicles traveling through Indaw are unable to pass during the nighttime hours, necessitating overnight halts for highway lorries at the Nabar intersection.
In January of this year, over 700 residents from Geihe, Kyawywar, and Nannong villages were compelled to evacuate their residences as a result of airstrikes conducted by the Military Council in Indaw.
