Three villages in Matara Township, Mandalay Region, were reported to have been burned down by the junta troops for no reason.
According to the People’s Defense Force (Pa-Ka-Hpa) of Matara Township, the junta colomn that marched into Mattara Township in the morning of April 27 burned Shinhla, Hintharkone, and Htan Chauk Pin Villages.
“About 120 soldiers from Sintkaing village in Singu Township crossed to Matara by boat yesterday evening. And 120 soldiers from Moegyoe village in Matara Township marched and set fire to the villages,” Bo Tauk, the information officer of Matara township PDF, told MPA.
He added that the number of houses burned down has yet to be verified.
“On the way out from Matara towards the West Pitaukpin Bridge, we saw soldiers with around 10 or 11 military vehicles. They left the vehicles in Tawpu and went to the west of Zaleik to wait for the column coming from Sintkaing. While they were waiting for them, they burned three villages,” said a local.
As a result of these raids, residents of more than 10 villages in the western part of Matara Township fled to safety.
On the afternoon of April 27th, the convoy returned to Matara Town, but the residents believe that it is not safe, so they did not return to their respective villages until this morning (April 28th).