It is reported that junta troops burned down 63 houses in the eastern part of Matara Township, Mandalay Region, within one day.
About 60 soldiers based in Ngar Lone Pyun village, Matara Township, about 50 soldiers based in Tangar Village and about 100 soldiers based in Thaphangaing village thoroughly raided the villages in the eastern part of Mattara Township on March 23 and burned five villages, said Bo Tauk, in charge of information in the People’s Defense Force of Matara Township.
“The column has been coming since early that morning. The villages that were burned are only 5,000 feet away from each other. Since the column entered, they opened fire with heavy weapons, small weapons, and also snipers,” he said.
As a result of the arson, 44 houses in Seik Thar Village, 13 houses in Kwaygyi Village, 3 houses in Ohn Gone Village, 1 house in Kywe Tu Village, and 2 houses in Kywe Kya Village were destroyed by fire.
When the column entered, the residents in the eastern part of Matara had to flee. The column fired RPGs at the people who were hiding between Seik Thar village and Kywe Kya village, and five people were injured.
“They intentionally shot that the people were there. The soldiers could see them. They only shot one shell of RPG. The wounded are not in critical condition,” said a local.
It is reported that five injured people were given medical treatment in cooperation with the Matara Township PDF and other forces.
It was learned that the column retreated on March 23.