A landmine explosion in Pauktaw Village, Kunngan Village Tract, Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon State, has left one man dead and four others injured, according to local sources.
The incident occurred around noon on February 19 when a family living in a rubber plantation discovered two landmines and brought them home. While attempting to dismantle one of the devices, it detonated, resulting in the immediate death of the man handling it and injuring four others.
“The family found two anti-tank mines made of plastic and took them home. They attempted to break one open to see what was inside, and it exploded. The man who struck the mine died on the spot, and others nearby were injured. It was only after the explosion that they realized they had brought back landmines,” a local source told the Independent Mon News Agency.
The injured include a 30 year man, a 35 year woman, a six-month-old infant, and a 15-year-old boy.
Locals report that both the military junta and resistance forces are active in the area. A resistance group operating in the region suggested that the landmine was likely planted by the Myanmar military’s Light Infantry Battalion 208.
“They might have been curious about what was inside, so they tried to open it. After the explosion, our resistance group had to secure the remaining mine. It’s an anti-tank mine, likely left by the military junta. Two of the injured have only minor wounds, so it could have been much worse. If anyone finds such devices in the future, we urge them to report it to the nearest resistance group instead of handling it themselves,” a resistance member in the area stated.
Landmines are commonly used by the military junta, often planted in civilian areas with the intent to harm both resistance fighters and local residents, according to Nai Aue Mon, director of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland.
“The Myanmar military frequently uses these kinds of landmines because they have the budget and resources to do so. They plant them around areas where they expect resistance activity, such as rubber plantations and farms, without any warning. When civilians are killed or injured, they take no responsibility,” he said.
This is not the first such incident in Kyaikmaraw Township. In early January, a couple from Mayankone Village, Chaunghnitkhwa Village Tract, was killed when their motorcycle triggered a landmine on their way home from the fields.
Kyaikmaraw Township remains a stronghold of resistance activity, leading to increased military deployments by the junta since late 2024. Resistance forces continue to launch frequent attacks on junta positions in the area.
