In Sintharmwe village of Nga Tharauk town, Nyaung-U Township, Mandalay Region, military forces conducted an operation during which they brutally killed a civilian and burned down 25 houses, according to local residents. On June 22, military troops from Nga Tharauk police station entered Sintharmwe village after passing through Tamakha, Kulartel, and Pyapun villages. Upon entering the village, they killed a man named Maung Thet and buried his body at the entrance of the village.
The military forces also took five villagers as hostages and forcibly entered residents’ homes, looting rice, cooking oil, snacks, beverages, beer, and clothing. They also killed and consumed villagers’ chickens before setting fire to 25 houses. After the destruction, the troops continued their operation toward Thanappin and Kamma villages. According to local sources, the military forces ransacked every house in the village, taking whatever supplies they wanted. They loaded their vehicles with goods from a local shop including snacks, drinks, eggs, and beer. Some houses had their oil containers deliberately spilled, and rice bags were contaminated by pouring oil into them. They even took women’s traditional Kachin longyi garments.
Since June 23, the military has been conducting operations in Nyaung-U Township with two separate columns. One column from Taungzin police station and another from Nyaung-U town, including armored vehicles, have been attacking and burning villages in the area. As a result of these military operations, approximately 10,000 residents from about 20 villages, including Zemargyi, Zipinpin, Yatawgyi, Myaung, Gyokan, and Kyaukkan villages, have been forced to flee their homes and are now internally displaced. The ongoing military operations have created a humanitarian crisis in the region, with thousands of civilians seeking safety in other areas.
