- Web Master
- October 27, 2024
After hundreds of junta soldiers, who came to regain control over of Pauk Taw,
were wiped out by the Arakan Army (AA), the Burmese army heavily bombarded the township.
The junta forces repeatedly carried out bombardment from air and also fired
with heavy weapons from both the air and sea as well as fired shells from the
ground.
A local resident who has been closely monitoring the situation informed that
the soldiers who were stationed on the top of a pagoda were crushed by AA
members. The soldiers stationed at the Pauk Taw
police station also faced the offensive. Out of 170 soldiers, over 100
were defeated, he added.
Some soldiers are hiding in concrete buildings of Pauk Taw township. Often
they vandalize the shops for taking out food items to eat.
"Many soldiers were crushed. Some were hit by AA
snipers. Some ran away. Some surrendered. The army in
Pauk Taw has been destroyed. Now the soldiers may bomb the city from air.
They are also engaging navy personnel to fire with large cannons. Sittwe
police battalion (12) also fired many rockets,” he added.
On 1 December, the jet fighters and helicopters dropped a number of bombs on
the township.
"At around 11 am on Friday, a jet fighter dropped a bomb. The Jet plane
flew over the locality for two times. It dropped three bombs. By
noon, the helicopter was seen in the sky, which also dropped a bomb. Due to heavy bomb attacks, many shops and houses caught fire,” he
stated.
The AA released a video on Friday where it showed many residents were rescued
from the custody of soldiers. They were used as human shields by the junta
forces.
On the night of 15 November, the AA invaded and occupied the Pauk Taw police
station. Next day, about 170 soldiers and policemen were sent by
Shwe Pyitan high-speed boats and Navy
vessels to regain control over it.
Soon the fighting intensified
that scared thousands of the residents
many of who escaped the locality.
Later, the AA members attacked the camps of soldiers in Pauk Taw township and
finally rescued hundreds of the detainees.
By now hundreds of junta soldiers have been crushed. The AA also suffers
from casualties. A local source informed that despite fires in some parts
of the city on 2 December, no gunshots were heard except bombing
and shelling by junta forces.