This Incident Report describes events that occurred in Htaw Ta Htoo (Htantabin) and Daw Hpah Hkoh (Thandaunggyi) townships, Taw Oo (Toungoo) District, in November 2024. On November 21st 2024, the State Administration Council (SAC) troops from three army camps under the Military Operations Command (MOC) #20 fired approximately ten mortar rounds into Kaw Thay Der village tract (Htaw Ta Htoo Township) and K’Lay Loh Mu Nu village tract (Daw Hpah Hkoh Township). One of the mortar shells landed and exploded in a betel nut plantation near A--- village, Kaw Thay Der village tract, where local villagers were working. As a result, one villager was killed and another villager was injured. Many betel nut trees were also damaged. Family members of the deceased villager are now facing livelihood challenges, having lost their breadwinner.[1]
Part 2 - Information Quality
1. Explain in detail how this information was collected.
On the day after the incident, local [Karen National Union (KNU)[8]] authorities informed me [the KHRG researcher] about the incident. Then, I contacted Saw F---, the village head from A--- village, and I interviewed him about the case. In addition, I conducted an interview with a villager named Saw G---, who witnessed the incident.
2. Explain how the source verified this information.
The information was verified by Saw F---, the village head from A--- village, and a local villager, Saw G---, who witnessed the incident. [Saw F--- is the person who organised and managed transportation of the victims to the hospital in Toungoo Town. Saw G--- witnessed the incident as he was working in the betel nut plantation when the incident happened].