IN the Hpakant area of Kachin State, armed groups consisting of KIA and KPDF terrorists have been carrying out activities such as collecting extortion money from villages, forcibly recruiting new members, intimidating civilians through the use of weapons, and indiscriminately attacking villages that do not support them with heavy and light weapons.
While such activities have been ongoing, the joint groups of KIA and KPDF terrorists again carried out indiscriminate heavy weapon attacks on Hpakant from a distance of approximately 3,000 metres to the south-west of the town yesterday morning.
During the incident, heavy weapon shells fired by the terrorists landed and exploded in and around the Basic Education High School (Hpakant), causing damage to school buildings. As a result, two Grade-4 students – Maung Lin Khant Ko, a resident of Hngetpyawtaw Ward in Hpakant, and Ma Ron Din, a resident of Janggut village – sustained shrapnel injuries. The two injured children are currently receiving the necessary medical treatment.
The joint groups of KIA and KPDF terrorists have been committing acts of terrorism, including indiscriminate shelling with heavy weapons and instigating fighting in peaceful towns, villages, and wards, while describing their actions as being for regional development when, in reality, they are carrying out destructive activities. On this occasion as well, indiscriminate shelling into towns and villages, carried out with little consideration, resulted in injuries to children, who are the future generation pursuing their education, as well as damage and destruction to educational facilities. Residents are strongly opposing and condemning these terrorist acts, and it has been reported that security forces will continue to carry out necessary security measures and counter-terrorism operations as required. — MNA/MKKS
