Two children from Hlay Kawng village were injured when the Burma army’s Infantry Battalion 274 (IB-274) fired artillery shells at Hlay Kawng village, according to local sources.
Ko Laurence, who lives in Mindat Township, said that IB-274 fired at least eight 120 mm mortar shells into Hlay Kawng village around 7 a.m. on 27 February. IB-274 is based in Mindat town of southern Chin state.
“The Mindat Chinland Defense Force (Mindat CDF) attacked a military camp. The Burma army responded by firing at least eight shells towards Hlay Kawng village. The Mindat CDF attacked IB-274 soldiers with at least five shells. The Mindat CDF and Burma army continued to fight each other with heavy weapons,” Ko Laurence told Khonumthung News.
Ko Har Kalay said that the two injured children were aged 12 and 16. He said that he does not have detailed information about the severity of their injuries. Khonumthung News was not able to independently verify the injuries.
A spokesperson for the Mindat CDF said that the Burma army’s shelling also damaged at least one civilian house. He added that the Burma army frequently attacks civilian villages with heavy weapon in Mindat Township, therefore local people need to take care of their safety.
Local people reported that the Burma army arrested some civilians in Mindat Township, after the military council sent more troops into Mindat town in February.