Local residents reported that 10 civilians, including a middle school teacher, were injured due to artillery fire by the military council forces in Hpakant Township, Kachin State. Around 1 AM on September 9, military council troops based in Hpakant fired artillery shells from their strategic hill position toward Seik Mu (Sai Taung) village, where no fighting was taking place. The shelling hit a house adjacent to a middle school in front of a Chinese temple in Ward 3 of Seik Mu village, resulting in injuries to middle school teacher Ko Hlaing Min Htun, Ko Zaw Win Naing, and Ko Myo.
Additionally, at least 10 civilians, including 4 residents from Ba Zan Chauk village, were injured in the incident. Due to the military council’s deliberate artillery attacks on civilian residential areas and neighborhoods, more than 10,000 people from 13 villages in western Hpakant have been forced to flee their homes. These internally displaced persons are facing severe difficulties with basic necessities and are in urgent need of emergency assistance, according to local residents.
According to a Kachin military news source, fighting has been occurring almost daily in the Hpakant area, resulting in more than 70 civilian deaths and over 250 injuries. The military council forces have been continuously conducting military operations in and around Lon Khin and Hpakant, firing artillery indiscriminately, necessitating that local residents remain vigilant about their safety. The source added that since late May, when the military council forces began operations in Hpakant Township, they have killed more than 70 civilians, according to local residents.
