Myanmar junta airstrike kills abbot, injures two monks in Karen State

Mizzima

A Myanmar military airstrike on the evening of 5 March struck a monastery in Kyauk Kwin village, Hpapun Township, Karen State, killing an abbot and injuring two other monks, according to local sources.

Despite no reported clashes in the area, a resident said the junta launched an attack around 4:00 pm, dropping a 500-pound bomb and opening fire with machine guns. The airstrike severely damaged the monastery, resulting in the death of the monastery’s presiding monk, Sayadaw Bhaddanta Visuddha, who was 63 years old and had been a Buddhist monk for 42 years.

“The presiding monk (abbot) was killed. Another monk lost his left arm, and a novice monk sustained injuries to his leg, back, and arm. They have been taken to Hpa-An hospital for treatment,” a local resident said.