Kyaing Hein Lin, Narinjara News, 30 January 2025

A 7-year-old Muslim boy in Maungdaw township of Arakan State  lost a leg after stepping on a landmine inside his residence.

The boy named Maung Ku Sheik Arlar hailing from Shwe Zar Gone Nar (Muslim) village in Maungdaw locality stepped on the landmine at 7 pm on 29 January.

After the explosion, his left leg was necessary to amputate below the knee.

The Arakan Army (AA) reportedly treated him with medicines following the incident. The landmine that caused the injury to the boy was reportedly planted by the junta forces.

Now the residents in Maungdaw are worried as the landmines may seemingly explode inside their residential campuses also.

Since 25 January, the AA fighters allowed both Muslims and Hindus, who fled their places in Maungdaw locality, to return home.

During the conflict between the AA fighters and junta soldiers in Maungdaw locality the  junta established strong positions and planted many landmines in civilian residences of urban wards including Shwe Zar village and other areas.

Before the AA gained full control of Maungdaw, the landmine clearance operation was  conducted in some villages by the AA fighters.

Additionally, after the AA took control of the entire Maungdaw township on 8 December last, they carried out a landmine clearance operation on the road in front of the 5th border guard police battalion (NaKhaKha-5) and unearthed over 100 mines.

On 22 January, a woman from Aung Mingalar ward in Mrauk-U township died after stepping on a landmine while collecting firewood near a mountain where the 377th and 378th light infantry battalions were stationed.

News and Photographs - Arakan Princess Media