Local residents have been forced to evacuate en masse after the military council launched artillery attacks on a monastery in Let Pan village, Sagaing Township, Sagaing Region. The attacks came 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 nearby villages. An artillery shell struck the monastery in Let Pan village, causing significant damage to the building complex. The extent of civilian casualties from the artillery strike has not yet been confirmed.
According to a local resident, the military council was seen transporting their casualties from the battle in vehicles. The resident further stated that the military’s random artillery strikes severely damaged the monastery in Let Pan village, forcing all villagers to flee to safer locations. The indiscriminate shelling has created a humanitarian crisis as entire communities have been displaced from their homes.
Simultaneously, the military council has conducted aerial bombing raids on villages in Thaung Tha Township, Mandalay Region, as confirmed by the Thaung Tha Township Public Movement Committee. Around 2:48 AM on March 19, the military council used helicopters to drop bombs on Kyar Pin Tae village and Nagar Bo village, while also firing small arms. The committee is still investigating the extent of civilian casualties and property damage resulting from these aerial attacks. These coordinated attacks demonstrate an escalation in the military council’s use of heavy weapons and airpower against civilian areas, forcing residents to abandon their homes and seek shelter elsewhere.
