By Kantarawaddy Times
At around 3:30 p.m. on October 26, a junta drone dropped a bomb near a village in Hpruso Township, Karenni State, seriously injuring a displaced civilian who was harvesting rice. The explosion struck the victim, causing severe injuries to his head, neck, and both legs, according to local residents.
“There were about six people working in the rice field at the time,” said one displaced villager who witnessed the incident. “Everyone ran when they saw the drone flying overhead, but as the bomb was dropped, it struck him while he was still trying to escape.”
The injured man, who is in his 40s and a father of two, was harvesting rice with his family when they noticed a drone circling overhead. Although they tried to flee, the bomb exploded and struck him. He is now reported to be in critical condition.
In addition, a thaw le ji (small tractor) used by displaced villagers to transport harvested rice was also damaged in the attack.
This season is the harvesting season, and many displaced persons and local farmers are risking their lives to collect their crops. Despite the danger, they continue to enter their fields, as these harvests are vital for their food and livelihood, residents said.
“During this period, we all know the brutality of the military junta. It is even worse in our state, and we have to be cautious since we rely on farming for our livelihood. Even though it’s dangerous, we have no choice — we must farm to survive and to feed our families,” said a displaced farmer.
The area where the man was injured by the junta’s drone strike was a hillside farmland with no active fighting reported in the surrounding area, according to displaced residents.
According to data compiled by Kantarawaddy Times, between August and October 26, at least two civilians were killed and eight others injured in drone attacks carried out by the military junta in Pruso Township alone.
