At least 10 bodies of villagers were found after Myanmar junta troops raided a village in Myinmu Township, Sagaing Region, according to residents.

Junta forces arrived in two helicopters at Latpankyin village, which had around 500 houses, in the north of the township while two Russian-made MI-35 helicopters attacked the village, although there had been no fighting with anti-regime forces on Monday in the area.

On Monday, three betel farmers were killed in junta airstrikes. Another was detained by junta forces after troops found a picture of a man holding a gun on a phone. The detainee had no information and was killed, Ko Nway Oo, a leader of the Civil Defense and Security Organization of Myaung, who witnessed the junta raid, told The Irrawaddy.

His body was found behind the village school with his hands tied behind his back, Ko Nway Oo said.

After air attacks on Monday, around 100 villagers, including teachers and around 60 children from a school run by the civilian National Unity Government, were detained by junta forces.

Resistance forces rescued the trapped children and villagers on Tuesday evening, Ko Nway Oo said.

At least six more villagers’ bodies were found after the troops left on Tuesday, he added.

A resident told The Irrawaddy that within two days, 10 bodies were found.

“Villagers still not dare return,” the villager said.

Troops also destroyed a health clinic, a Buddhist center and houses.

Troops also reportedly took 14 Latpankyin villagers as human shields and moved them to nearby villages.

Pro-regime channels and media groups reported on Tuesday that regime troops killed five people’s defense force (PDF) members during a raid on a camp in the village and detained 40 male villagers and 73 women for interrogation but did not mention the children.

The reports stated that they seized many improvised firearms, ammunition and equipment, six vehicles and 30 motorbikes.

Amid attacks from PDFs and ethnic armed organizations, junta forces have relentlessly committed atrocities and arbitrary killings, burned people alive, used civilians as human shields, conducted airstrikes and shelled residential areas, looted and burned houses and committed acts of sexual violence.

Last Wednesday the regime raided and burned down a PDF camp in Myinmu Township using five helicopters, including two MI-35s.

Source:
courtesy of THE IRRAWADDY

by THE IRRAWADDY

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