Local residents report that at least five civilians were killed when military council troops entered and opened fire in Lonekhin village, Hpakant Township, Kachin State. The military column arrived near Lonekhin village on the evening of May 27 and entered the village during May 28 and 29, deliberately targeting and shooting civilians. After the military column departed, local residents had to collect and bury the bodies of those killed.
According to local sources, the military council troops shot and killed civilians without any provocation near the intersection in Lonekhin ward and surrounding areas. Local residents had to collect the bodies that were left on the streets. While five deaths have been confirmed so far, the death toll could be higher as the military conducted shootings in multiple locations during their operation. Notably, a civilian who was looking out from a window at a mining dormitory was also shot dead by the troops, and that body has not yet been recovered.
The military council entered Hpakant town with more than 600 troops and carried out arrests and killings of innocent civilians along their route. They also fired upon and damaged lodging houses, causing fear and anxiety among local residents. Local people are concerned that such deliberate targeting of civilians by military council forces could further deteriorate the security situation in the region. The military’s actions have created an atmosphere of terror and uncertainty in the area, with residents expressing grave concerns about their safety and security.
