In Thonepichaung village, Thanyarpin Township, Taungoo District of Bago Region, military council forces launched an unprovoked artillery attack that resulted in the death of an elderly woman in her seventies and seriously injured four civilians, including an eight-year-old child. The incident occurred on April 24, 2024, at approximately 1:15 AM when forces from the Nyaungchaythauk base and Infantry Battalion 73 fired two artillery shells that landed and exploded within the village, despite there being no active fighting in the area.
The artillery strike caused immediate casualties among the civilian population. An elderly woman over 70 years of age was killed instantly in the attack. A man in his fifties sustained gunshot wounds, while a woman around 50 years old suffered severe injuries when artillery shell fragments penetrated her upper back and abdomen. An eight-year-old child was critically wounded with injuries to the hip and thigh, and a 40-year-old man received non-life-threatening facial injuries. The attack has highlighted the ongoing threat to civilian safety in the region.
Despite the military council’s recent announcement of a ceasefire, they continue to deliberately target civilian areas with heavy artillery, even in locations where there is no active conflict. These intentional attacks on innocent civilians have resulted in continued casualties and injuries among the civilian population, causing widespread fear and anxiety among local residents. According to local sources, the frequency of such artillery attacks has increased compared to previous periods, demonstrating an escalation in the military council’s aggressive actions against civilian populations. The incident has further undermined the credibility of the military council’s claimed ceasefire and highlighted their continued use of heavy weapons against civilian targets.
