A State Administration Council (SAC) jet fighter killed four civilians and wounded three when it bombed Lailengpi in Matupi Township. Over 7,000 residents fled the town in southern Chin State during the bombardments over several days.
“They were already hiding in a safe place, and when they left it to use the toilet, shrapnel hit them,” a local man explained.
According to locals, U Mecha and U Ngu Hker, both aged 50, were killed. As the bodies of the other victims hadn’t been collected at the time of this report came out, the villagers didn’t know who they were.
Those who were injured have been sent to an area controlled by resistance groups to be treated by their medics.
Chin resistance forces used a drone to attack SAC’s camp in Lailengpi where 30 soldiers are stationed on November 19, and the regime retaliated with an airstrike killing the people.
They also fired artillery indiscriminately in the area. The attacks damaged a school, a church, and approximately 50 homes in Lailengpi.
“There’s no one left in Lailengpi,” a man helping them said. Most of the residents have fled to the jungle, nearby villages, or are hiding in remote farms, but others have crossed the border into India.
He said they urgently need food, and some require better shelter or materials to make shelters. As they couldn’t bring anything with them when they fled, they are facing difficulties.
The man explained it has been raining, and those sleeping outside don’t have tarps to stay dry.
SAC continued to shell the town and outlying areas, causing more property damages until Tuesday.