Mizzima

Three elderly people died after they were trapped in a fire started by Myanmar junta troops in Htanaungtaw (South) Village in Sagaing Region’s Monywa Township, on 15 March.

At 6:00 a.m. on 15 March, 30 junta soldiers from a junta army column stationed at Swan Yay Htet petrol station in Moywa Township’s Myayne Village marched on Htanaungtaw (South) Village and fired small arms at the village. At 7:00 a.m. they entered the village and set fire to houses, despite the fact that there had been no fighting in the vicinity of the village.

The actions of the junta soldiers in the village and surrounding areas forced villagers from Htanaungtaw (South) and nearby villages to flee to safer areas.

The fire in Htanaungtaw (South) killed three older people who were aged about 70 and also destroyed more than 60 homes in the village, according to the Monywa-A Myint Road News and Information Group.

The junta soldiers left Htanaungtaw (South) at around 11:30 p.m. on 15 March and headed to Pyu Village before returning to their base at Swan Yay Htet petrol station with 15 motorcycles stolen from villagers.