Military junta deployed troops in Mahlaing Township, opened fire with artillery shells

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🟥3 civilians were killed, 3 were injured

In recent days, the military junta has been dividing the villages along the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway in Mahlaing Township, Meiktila District, Mandalay Region, and has been conducting ground troops, deploying troops, and opening fire with artillery shells, causing houses to be burned and innocent civilians to be injured, according to military sources on the ground.

At around 1:00 PM on July 22, a 180-strong military junta column that entered from mile stone 318 of the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway entered Aung Thar Village, Mahlaing Township, and engaged in a clash with local defense forces near Aung Thar Village.

After the fighting broke out, the military junta stationed at Si Gyi Swel Pagoda opened fire with artillery shells, which exploded in Letswayt village near Aung Thar village, killing three people and injuring three others.

“The fighting started from Aung Thar, and the revolutionary forces exchanged fire with the war dogs(the military junta soldiers). After the fighting broke out, the revolutionary forces retreated. Then they exchanged fire in Letswayt village, and the military fired artillery shells into the village. Three houses were set on fire. Six people were hit. Three people were killed and three were injured. The revolutionary comrades extinguished the houses that were set on fire by the artillery shells. Currently, the military is stationed in Letswayt village, destroying the houses of the villagers, killing chickens and pigs, taking rice bags and sesame bags, and the entire village is being evacuated,”

said a local villager. After the attack on the military junta’s police vehicle near mile stone 318 of the highway, the military junta lobbyists have been continuously agitating for the military to invade villages in Mahlaing Township.