CNA/ Myat Thu
Residents of Taungkok have reported that Arakan Army has warned the villagers living near Taungkok Township, to relocate to safer places.
Due to the warnings issued by Arakan Army, many villagers from areas around Taungkok, including Thalinpyin, Taungywa, Natmaw, and Don villages, have been fleeing to safer locations, according to a local resident.
“Many people have been fleeing the conflict zones and seeking shelter in safer areas. The latest reports indicate that they have been forced to relocate the villages where the military council is stationed, including the village near Alinn Ngar Sin, where the battle happened the other day. The reason for this, according to sources, is that as the fighting intensifies, heavy artillery and airstrikes by the military junta have led to significant damage to the areas where civilians reside, prompting the evacuations,” he said.
On the evening of November 7, around 8 PM, clashes between the military junta forces and the Arakan Army erupted near Alinn Ngar Sin, located about 1 Fa Long away from Taungkok Township. The heavy artillery fired by the military junta hit areas in Don and Taungywa villages, causing significant destruction to numerous homes, according to local sources.
However, while residents in Taungkok Township and surrounding areas have been able to flee to safer places due to the ongoing conflict, those remaining within the town itself are trapped. This is because the military junta’s checkpoints and the Arakan Army’s roadblocks are preventing them from leaving. A local resident of Taungkok town stated that, as a result, many people are unable to escape to safety and remain confined in the area.
“People living in the areas around the town have been able to flee to safer places, but those still within the town are trapped. The reason is that while the military junta has allowed people to leave, the Arakan Army’s roadblocks prevent them from passing through. As a result, people are unable to escape. There are some who have managed to leave by following forest paths or other routes, but not everyone can make it. Many residents of the town remain trapped because not all of them are able to leave,” he said.
This morning, there were no reported clashes between the military junta forces and the Arakan Army. However, around 3 PM in the afternoon, the junta’s stationed forces began firing heavy artillery indiscriminately, a local resident from Taungkok reported.
“This morning, there were no reports of shelling. However, starting around 3 PM, troops stationed at locations such as the Kine Shay Bridge, the southern edge of Mt. Pan Myauk, and Mt. Thae Kan began indiscriminately firing heavy artillery,” said a local resident of Taunggok town.
Since November 1, clashes between the military junta and the Arakan Army have been ongoing near Mt. Pan Myauk in TaungkokTownship. On November 3, the Arakan Army successfully captured and fully seized a significant military junta base located on the mountain.
Following that, the Arakan Army has also announced that it will continue to launch attacks on the remaining military junta bases in the area.
