Military Shelling Kills 2 in Namhpatka Northern Shan State
In Namhpatkar, Kutkai Township, Northern Shan State, a woman and a child were killed due to shrapnel, while six local residents sustained injuries from artillery shells fired by Military Council troops, according to local residents.
On the morning of October 27, a local woman in Namhpatkar reported that the 17th Infantry Battalion, under the Military Council, fired artillery shells into civilian areas, leading to an explosion in Ward 4 of Namhpatkar.
"Artillery shells landed on two homes in Ward 4, causing the immediate deaths of a woman and a child. To the best of our information, two individuals perished on the scene," she said.
The deceased civilians were identified as 32-year-old Daw Nan Bauk and 7-year-old Ma Sunday Lu Aung. Meanwhile, six injured local residents are currently receiving medical treatment at Namhpatkar Hospital.
In several townships within northern Shan State, Military Council troops and affiliated militias have faced simultaneous attacks from the Northern Alliance since this morning,
but there has been no fighting near the town of Namhpatkar."There is no ongoing fighting in Namhpatkar. I've heard that the conflict is occurring in Namhkam, approximately 13 miles away. However, the indiscriminate artillery shells fired by the military are landing in our village," the local woman further explained.
According to reports, the artillery shells were launched by the Military Council's Infantry Battalion 123, stationed in Namhpatkar, and the MOC-17 troops from the Regional Operations Command
this morning the conflict between the Military Council troops and the Three Northern Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan State has escalated. The China-Myanmar Union Highway was promptly closed as an emergency measure, starting at 6:00 a.m. on October 27, as announced by the Kokang armed group (MNDAA).
"The Union Highway was closed in the morning, and there was complete traffic silence. The sounds of artillery shells and small arms fire could be heard. The highway remained devoid of any traffic. The conflict appeared to be widespread across northern Shan State, with the military also engaging in indiscriminate artillery shelling," explained a local woman from Kutkai regarding the road closure.
According to the Kokang armed group (MNDAA), the decision to urgently close the Lashio-Chinshwehaw-Muse highway is aimed at eliminating the Military Council troops in Shan State Special Region 1. This measure is also intended to remove online gaming companies from Laukkai township and to deter the group providing protection to these companies.
It also serves to impede the advancement of the Military Council troops from Lashio.
“In light of the emergency announcement declaring the road closure, no traffic will be permitted for any purpose, and those attempting to pass through during this restricted period will be treated as enemy transport vehicles and subjected to severe attacks,” the statement said.
The Military Council has also imposed closure of entry and exit points in Lashio township, and these areas experiencing conflict have been subjected to attacks utilizing jet fighters and helicopters, according to local news media.
