At least one civilian was reportedly killed and three others injured by artillery shells in Khawmawi village of Chin state in Myanmar not far from the Indian border on August 10 morning, triggering exodus of at least 3,000 Myanmarese nationals to Mizoram-Myanmar border Zokhawthar village in Champhai district and surrounding areas.
Zokhawthar village council president Mamuana said over the phone from Zokhawthar that all the villagers of Khawmawi and nearby Rihkhawdar villages have fled and taken shelter in Zokhawthar and surrounding villages.
“The sounds of gunfire and pounding of artillery shells could be heard from Zokhawthar and nearby villages,” he said.
Khawmawi village is just a walking distance from Zokhawthar village, the lone border trade centre with Myanmar and situated along the Mizoram-Myanmar border river Tiau.
Thankunga Pachuau, president of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) said that the Chinland Defense Force (CDF), civil resistance force (militia) of Chin state attacked the Myanmar army camp situated on the top of Khawmawi village from early morning and the exchange of fire lasted for over 3 hours.
Myanmar army personnel, having a camp at Rihkhawdar village, came to the rescue of the soldiers in Khawmawi village by pounding several shells of artillery towards Khawmawi village, Pachuau said.
A trader from Tahan in Sagaing district was killed while his younger brother was injured and the shells also hit another house seriously injuring two occupants. All the three injured persons were brought to Zokhawthar and were referred to the Champhai district hospital.
CDF sources claimed that five Myanmar army personnel were killed in the attack on Khawmawi army camp.
A large number of refugees stayed with their relatives and friends while most of them were lodged in community halls and schools where food was provided by the local people.