Local residents report that villagers from Letpan village in Sagaing Township, Sagaing Region, have been forced to flee after the military council’s artillery shells struck a monastery in their village. The incident occurred following clashes between resistance forces and the military council troops along the Sagaing-Mingun road between 9 PM and 11 PM on March 17. After the fighting, the military council indiscriminately fired heavy weapons at surrounding villages, with one artillery shell hitting and exploding at the Letpan village monastery, causing significant damage to the religious building.
According to local sources, the military council transported their casualties from the battle in vehicles covered with tarpaulins. The extent of civilian casualties from the artillery strike remains unconfirmed. Currently, residents from Letpan village and surrounding areas have been forced to evacuate to safer locations, abandoning their homes. The military council’s artillery attacks have resulted in significant losses of life and property for local civilians. The continuous attacks have created a humanitarian crisis in the area, with displaced villagers struggling to find safe shelter and basic necessities.
Additionally, the military council has conducted aerial bombing attacks on villages in Thaung Tha Township, Mandalay Region, as confirmed by the Thaung Tha Township Public Movement Committee. On March 19, at approximately 2:48 AM, the military council used helicopters to drop bombs on Kyipintet village and Nagabo village, while also firing small arms. The committee is currently investigating the extent of civilian casualties and property damage resulting from these aerial attacks. These incidents represent an ongoing pattern of the military council’s use of disproportionate force against civilian populations, causing widespread displacement and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
