Artillery strike kills child in Hpakant

A child was killed when the junta shelled Mawshan Village in Hsengtaung (Seikmu) Village Tract, Hpakant Township, Kachin State.

At around 4:00 pm on September 17, a junta artillery strike killed a 9-year-old child, injured four others, and destroyed two houses, a Hpakant Township resident told MNJ. “One child died on the spot,” he said.

After retaking Sankywei Village, part of the Hsengtaung Village Tract, on September 17, the junta continued shelling Hsengtaung, Mawshan, Lana, and Sai Jar Bum villages with artillery.

Another Hpakant resident said these villages have been under artillery fire from the junta’s division headquarters based in Hpakant Town since around 5:00 am on September 17.

Since the junta columns entered Hpakant Township about four months ago, the Hpakant-based headquarters has been bombarding nearby villages with artillery and launching frequent drone strikes.