A woman was killed and three men were injured when the military council troops opened fire near Pan Tin Bridge at the entrance of Hpakant city in Kachin State, according to local sources. The incident occurred around 7 AM on August 25 when military forces stationed at Maw Si Sa Hill entered the city with small arms and a force of over 100 personnel. During their advance into the city, they opened fire near Pan Tin Bridge, resulting in the immediate death of a female street vendor from Mashi Khathaung ward and seriously wounding three men.
According to local residents, the deceased woman lived near a mobile phone shop and fell victim to indiscriminate firing by military council troops. Since the military council began their operations in Hpakant, nearly seventy civilians have been killed and over a hundred injured, as reported by local sources. The military council regularly conducts drone surveillance in the area, maintaining a constant state of intimidation over the civilian population.
Hpakant region, home to the world’s largest jade mines, has been targeted by the military council in their attempts to control local natural resources. Local civilians have been forced to flee their homes due to the military council’s violence, losing their lives, properties, and livelihoods. Residents report that the military council continues to conduct arbitrary arrests, torture, property confiscation, and forced military conscription in the area. The ongoing military operations have created a humanitarian crisis in the region, with civilians facing daily threats to their safety and security.
