Two seven-year-old children were killed by an unexploded 40mm grenade launcher round left by junta troops near to Kan Village in Gangaw Township, Magwe Region.

The round exploded in a forested area about 20 miles from Kan Village at about 5 p.m. on 19 June .

A local villager said: “First the bomb was found by another child. His parent told him not to play with it because it could kill people and the parent then put the shell into a termite mound. Later the two victims saw the unexploded 40mm shell and started playing with it. They threw it up in the air and it then exploded when they hit it with a rock.”

The two killed children were named as Pyae Sone Maung and Min Htut. Locals confirmed that they died on the spot.

An official from the People's Defense Forces-Gangaw District Battalion (1) said that the bomb was believed to have been left after a 180-strong military column marched to Gangaw on 12 June.

He believed that the round had been left as a booby trap. He said: “I think it is absolutely impossible that the army column dropped it [by accident]. They must have left it on purpose.”

The official warned people not to touch bombs and other dangerous explosive military objects discovered in forested areas or inside villages, that have been left on purpose, accidentally dropped or not exploded.

People have been kindly requested to notify the People Defense Forces in Gangaw Township if they find any type of military explosives or ammunition.