On 2 April, junta soldiers indiscriminately fired artillery shells into the eastern area of Mongpai (aka Mobye) town in Paikhun (aka Pekon) Township of southern Shan State.

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A representative of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force Battalion-3 reported that the junta’s shelling in Mongpai town killed a 50-year old man and wounded four people, including a child.

The shelling started at around 7 a.m. on 2 April. Approximately 50 artillery shells were fired into civilian areas on the eastern side of Mongpai town.

“We heard the sound of artillery firing. A man was killed and four other people were wounded by the Burma army’s shelling. Some civilian houses were also damaged by the shelling,” a member of the Mobye People’s Defense Force (Mobye PDF) told SHAN.

Following the shelling of Mobye town, clashes continued in other areas Paikhun Township and Panlaung Township which are both located in Taunggyi District of Shan State near the border with Karenni State.

“Clashes continue in Panlaung Township and Karenni State but fighting has now reduced in the Mongpai area. The Burma army frequently attacks civilian villages with artillery in the Mongpai area during its attacks on resistance groups. The Burma army used its air force to attack resistance groups in Panlaung Township of southern Shan State and in Karenni State,” the Mongpai PDF member told SHAN.

More than 10,000 local people have been displaced by the clash between Burma army and combine forces of People’s Defense Force in Mongpai town, Panlaung Township, and Paikhun Township in Taunggyi District of southern Shan State.