Maung Sar Ga, Narinjara News, 14 November 2024 

On November 12, artillery fire from the junta hit Tat Taung Town in Ann Township, Arakan State, resulting in the death of a seventh-grade student and leaving her grandmother and another man with serious injuries. 

The victim was a seventh-grade student and the child of U Tin Than Oo, who owns a gold shop in Toe Chae ward of Tat Taung Town. 

The injured comprised U Tin Than Oo's mother-in-law and another individual. 

At approximately 11:00 am, a shell from the Western Command in Ann Town struck U Tin Than Oo's residence in Tat Taung Town, resulting in casualties, as per a source. 

“The shell hit their home while U Tin Than Oo and his spouse were at their jewelry store in Tat Taung Town,” the source stated. “Their daughter was fatally injured on the spot. His mother-in-law was hurt, and a passerby on the road outside the house was also hit by shrapnel and injured." 

The report also mentioned that the identities and ages of the deceased and the injured are still unknown because of challenges in reaching them by phone. 

“I obtained this information from the residents of Tat Taung who informed me about it yesterday as they escaped the conflict,” the source mentioned. 

The seventh-grade student who passed away endured extreme injuries, with her arms and legs amputated. 

Her grandmother was struck in the chest by shrapnel, and another man was wounded in the legs. 

The residence in which the fatalities happened was extensively harmed. 

The Western Command launched six artillery shells near Tat Taung Town early yesterday morning, even though there was no ongoing combat. Certain shells struck the town, while others detonated outside. 

Several residents interviewed by Narinjara News reported that numerous individuals had escaped to safety following the event. 

Tat Taung Town, situated 26 miles south of Ann Town, had an estimated population of around 8,000 in 2018. 

In a previous occurrence on February 5, over 40 junta troops and nine police personnel left Tat Taung Town with weapons at midnight. 

Since then, Tat Taung Town has remained free from junta control, overseen by the Arakan Army (AA). 

On March 2, at noon, the junta air force carried out airstrikes on the town, dropping bombs close to the high school and a nearby pearl factory. 

A few structures were damaged by flames, yet no injuries were reported.