The military council forces began heavy artillery attacks on Naung Pin village in Kyaukme Township, Northern Shan State, in the afternoon of July 26, forcing both internally displaced persons (IDPs) and local residents to flee the entire village. According to local sources, the military forces stationed in Nawnghkio Township started firing heavy weapons toward Naung Pin village around 12 noon, targeting the area near the railway tracks and territories controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA).
At approximately 12:43 PM, additional artillery shells landed inside Naung Pin village. The explosions from the artillery shells falling within the village forced all residents, including previously displaced persons seeking shelter there, to evacuate to safer locations. Local residents reported that the military council forces may be using chemical weapons in their artillery attacks, though independent media sources have not yet been able to verify these claims.
Naung Pin village is situated close to territories controlled by ethnic armed organizations in Northern Shan State and has been serving as a refuge for internally displaced persons fleeing from conflict. The military council forces have a documented pattern of indiscriminately firing heavy weapons into civilian areas while targeting ethnic armed organizations in the region. This latest attack represents another instance of the military council’s disregard for civilian safety, as they continue their offensive operations against ethnic armed groups in the area. The ongoing artillery attacks have created a humanitarian crisis as villagers are forced to abandon their homes and seek safety elsewhere, adding to the growing number of internally displaced persons in the region.
