At least one villager was killed, while three were injured and another five arrested by the Burma Army on Saturday in northern Shan State’s Lashio Township, according to a local source.

According to the resident of Mong Yaw sub-township, who wished to remain anonymous, a unit of Tatmadaw [Burmese military troops] pulled into the village of Long Mon in about five trucks and suddenly opened fire.

“They fired near the maize fields while villagers were still working,” said the source. “When people heard the sound of shooting, they tried to run away.”

He said that three female villagers were injured by gunfire, and were taken to the local hospital in Mong Yaw.

“After unloading their guns, the soldiers began stopping and questioning drivers as they passed by,” he said. “One man was shot dead at the check point. However his body is still missing.”

The Burma Army allegedly ordered farmers who were trying to run for cover to line up by the side of the road for questioning. Most were later allowed to go home, but five villagers were reportedly taken into custody. They were named as: Aik Hseng, 23; Aik Lod, 39; Aik Maung, 27; Sai Mon Awn, 17; and Sai Aik Maung, 23.

The eyewitness said that the shooting happened at about 2 p.m. He said that the battalion responsible was from Lashio, and that they sported a logo of a gun and sword on their uniforms, with the words Ja Ma Ya 10 on the other side.

Reached for comment by SHAN, Sai Wan Leng Kham, an Upper House representative from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), said that it was reported to him that fighting took place in that area on June 25. Therefore, he said, his team went to investigate the area the following day.

Sai Wan Leng Kham said he had reported news of the five arrests to a senior level of the Burmese military. However, he had not received a response to date.

“The Burma Army has apparently denied arresting those people. They said they released everyone,” said the Mong Yaw source. “But those villagers have still not returned home.”

A number of armed groups are actively operating in the Mong Yaw area, among them: Manpang Peoples Militia, led by Bo Mon; the Kachin Defense Army (KDA) People’s Militia, led by Matu Naw; the Kachin Independence Army (KIA); the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA); and the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA).

BY Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)