The local residents _ from more than 20 villages _ have reportedly been forced to flee due to military patrols and airstrikes in Kantbalu Township, Sagaing Region.
An official of the Kantbalu-Kyunhla Activists Group said that the junta column of 130 forces is burning and destroying villages in Kantbalu Township since February 1.
“During this week, 3 villages have been burned down. The 6 houses and 4 rice barns in Paylae village have been destroyed. Now, the junta column is patrolling with only one column,” he explained.
In addition, 6 villages _ in the village tracts of Kotaungbo, Chaptin and Pinthar _ were reportedly conducted air attacks without a fight on February 1, destroying a monastery and 5 houses, and injuring 5 local people.
“It is not shooting at a gathering of people during a festival, but the junta shot for no reason and no fight. They shot knowingly it was a Buddhist building. Both the monastery and the pagoda were destroyed. As a Buddhist, I’m quite saddened on those damages,” a local from Thintaw village, said.
A man with poor mental health was burnt to death by the junta troops in his house in Shan Tap village in Htankone Village Tract, west of Kantbalu Township, at 6:00 a.m. on February 3, according to locals.
Currently, more than 30,000 local residents _ from more than 20 villages _ in the northern part of Kantbalu Township _ where was attacked by airstrikes, and _ in the northern part of Kantbalu Township _ where were patrolled by the junta troops _ have reportedly fled to safety.
