Two Soldiers and Two Civilians Injured, One Killed in School Landmine Explosion in Nawngkhio

A landmine explosion occurred at a basic education school in Naung Lin Village, Nawnghkio Township, northern Shan State, leaving one military junta soldier dead and three others—including two civilians—injured.

The incident happened on April 5 during an effort to clear the school grounds in the Nyan Taw village tract using grass trimmers. Two residents, U Tin Maung Win, 54, and U Kyaw Thein, 63, were assisting in the clearance when they triggered the mine.

“We were using grass trimmers to check for mines at the school and managed to safely disarm the first one we found,” a man involved in the operation told the Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO). “When we found a second mine, we were afraid to handle it and called the relevant authorities. Junta soldiers arrived and took the lead to inspect it, but while moving forward, they stepped on a mine, causing the explosion.”

The blast instantly killed one junta soldier at the scene and severed the leg of another. The two civilians, U Tin Maung Win and U Kyaw Thein, also sustained injuries but have since been discharged from the hospital.

Naung Lin Village was previously the site of intense clashes between the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Myanmar military. It remains unconfirmed which armed group planted the landmine.