Two women workers transplanting paddy were killed in Sagaing Region’s Tabayin Township on Thursday when Myanmar regime forces attacked with a Russian-made Mi-35 combat helicopter for no reason, local residents said.
The helicopter opened fire at random around Kaingkan, Inpin and Yadin villages in Tabayin on Thursday. “Two were killed as the helicopter fired shots at a group of women transplanting paddy,” said a source.
The attack forced some 3,000 villagers from more than 10 villages in the township to flee their homes.
The helicopter attacked at 10.30 a.m. and 12 p.m. as the villagers fled. Locals said there was no fighting when the regime carried out the attack on villagers.
The spokesman of the township People’s Defense Force and some locals said two choppers airlifted some 80 junta soldiers from Phayahtwet Village to Kaingkan Village while the Mi-35 carried out the attacks.
Phayahtwet is around 24 km from Kaingkan.
“The helicopter attacked twice, with each lasting around 45 minutes. They fired shots indiscriminately,” said a resident.
A resident was killed and two others were injured when the regime carried out an air raid for no reason near Na Myar Village in Tabayin Township on July 14.
Division 33, Light Infantry Battalion 101 and units overseen by the 10th Military Operations Command are active in Sagaing.
In January, the commander of the Myanmar military’s North-Eastern Command, Major General Phyo Thant, was appointed as deputy border affairs minister and replaced by the commander of the 10th Military Operations Command, Major General Than Htike.
