A devastating landmine explosion in Bithu (Upper) Village, Pai Khun (Phekhon) Township, Southern Shan State, killed one man and severely injured three children on March 22.

The tragedy unfolded when a child, unaware of the danger, picked up an unexploded device near the village. Mistaking the deadly object for a harmless container, he brought it home triggering a catastrophic blast.

“The landmine looked like a cup or a can, so the child thought it might be useful,” a military source told SHAN. “The explosion killed his father instantly. The boy is now fighting for his life.”
Two other children, aged 12, 10, and 5were also wounded, while one of them remains in critical condition.

Hopong Township: Monastery Bombing Kills Novice Monk and Villager

Just a day earlier, another explosion ripped through Par Pin Monastery in Nambawom Village Tract, Hopong Township, claiming the lives of a villager and a young novice monk. Five others were injured in the blast.

A local resident recounted the horrifying incident, “A villager found the bomb near a military training ground and brought it to the monastery. While handling it, the device detonated killing him and a novice instantly.”

The wounded were rushed to a nearby hospital, but the psychological scars on this tight-knit community will linger far longer.

Southern Shan State has seen intensifying clashes in recent months, particularly in Hsihseng, Hopong, Panlong, Pai Khun, and Mong Pai (Moe Bye). Despite the rising number of landmine incidents, no demining operations or official safety warnings have been issued, leaving civilians, especially children, vulnerable to hidden dangers.