Two children Injured in Landmine Explosion in Kutkai Still Receiving Treatment, Two Others Have Died

Two children who were fishing, were killed and two other children were injured when they were struck by a rope-detonated landmine on February 1, at around 11 a.m., in Ho Sai (Nam Sai) village, Honawng Village Tract, Kutkai Township, under control of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army(TNLA) in northern Shan State. 

“They were fishing in the stream. Two of them were on the bank, and two were in the water. The two in the water were picking up the fish. When they struck a rope-detonated landmine, it exploded, killing two of them. The two injured children were frightened and said, ‘Who shot us?’ They ran away from there without even realizing they were injured,” said their aunt, who is now taking care of one of the children.

One of the injured children, 9-year-old Mai A-Nyo Lar, suffers from osteoporosis and sustained a fractured bone on his right hand and severe tissue damage. He is currently receiving treatment at Nam Kham Public Hospital.

The four children who were hit by the landmine are cousins, while 10-year-old Mai Nyi Htun Aung and Mai Aik Nyo Lar have lost both of their parents and are being cared for by their surviving relatives.

Mai A-Nyo Lar is a differently abled person and suffers from osteoporosis. 

A local resident said, “The Kachin forces have previously warned people not to go to those areas because there are landmines. However, they never specified the exact locations where the mines are. The people who are responsible in the village have not said anything. Since the area is a private paddy field, some people go there every day. Nothing had happened to them. They have not found any mines. Now, they were children. Even if they found a landmine, they might play with it without realizing the risk. No one knows exactly who planted the mine.”

Additionally, the two siblings who were killed by the landmine− 4-year-old Lwe Aye Nwe and 2-year-old Mai Aik Yon were also found to have differently abled parents.

The explosion site was located by a stream connecting Ho Sai village and Loi Mong (Kachin) village, and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) had planted landmines in that area, according to the locals.

Photo- Local/TWO

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