(CHINDWIN): Hundreds of Rohingya are reported to have been caught in the crossfire fight between the junta army and the Arakan Army in the evening of yesterday in Khaung Toke village tract of Kyaukdaw township, Rakhine state of Myanmar.
Prior to the clash, Chindwin is told that Arakan Army had conducted a check-through of all households in the village tract before taking positions in several houses belonging to the local Rohingya people.
The incident is reported to have caused at about 6:30 pm yesterday.
The Arakan Army’s checking through all households has terrified many Rohingya villagers, and they are forced to seek shelter in their relatives’ houses from other side of the village tract.
The junta army had shelled several rounds of artillery against the village tract as soon as the junta army learned that the Arakan Army was taking positions in the village.
The Rohingya leader, who provided the information under the condition of anonymity due to security reasons, confirms that there are casualties in the village tract as hundreds of Rohingya are being caught in the crossfire fight between the Arakan Army and the junta army that fired several rounds of the artillery.
When asked whether there is casualty as result of fighting between the junta army and the Arakan Army, the Rohingya leader says he was told that there is report of death but it is hard to confirm the report as local Rohingyas are not able to return to their homes yet.
If report of death is confirmed, this would be a result of what was said be “the artillery shelling” by the junta army.
Until this morning, villagers are not allowed to return to their homes and commune in the region as security remains alarming.
Chindwin cannot independently verify the report.
The Khaung Toke village tract is situated north of Kyaukdaw town along the Kaladan river.
