Young Novice Seriously Injured in Grenade Explosion in Namhpatkar

A young novice in Namhpatkar village, Kutkai Township, currently under the control of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), was critically injured after a grenade he was playing with exploded.

Around 12:00 PM on February 26, the 11-year-old boy lost his right leg and sustained fractures to his left leg, neck, and pelvis. The incident occurred in Ward 2 of Namhpatkar village, in an area between the local police station and a shrine near the monastery.

A local woman told the Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO), “I heard the child found the grenade on the 25th. He was playing with it when it exploded. There were three children initially, but two had left shortly before the blast.”

Another local resident suggested the device might have been a landmine given the severity of the injury. “It was a site of past clashes between Kachin and Burmese armies, so it’s hard to say which group left it behind. Regardless, those responsible for the safety of Namhpatkar should take accountability,” he said.

Community members are now calling on relevant organizations to conduct Landmine Risk Education (MRE) sessions for the villagers. 

The injured novice is currently receiving emergency medical treatment at Nam Kham Hospital and is in urgent need of financial assistance.