12 villagers, including a five-year-old and his 90-year-old grandparents, were killed by junta artillery fire before their bodies were then set on fire by soldiers in Letpadaw Village in Sagaing Region’s Yinmarpin Township on 8 March, according to the local defense force.

The burnt bodies were found during a search operation in Letpadaw village on 9 March.

Most of the victims were grandparents and their family members who could not easily flee. They were Daw Tin Nyunt, 93 years old, from Letpadaung village; U Than Maung, 82, Daw Aye Thaung, 62 and their family members - Daw Thein Hla, 61, Ma Moe Moe Win 31, Maung Swan Htet Naing, 8, Maung Myat Phone Naing, 5, and Daw Ohn Hlaing, 82, from Kan Thar village, Daw Hla Pyae, 77, Daw Than Nyunt, 76, Sein Tint, 73, and Daw Mi Tin.

"The Junta Military Council has to pay for their inhumane killings and atrocities committed on the villagers. We, the People's Defense Forces, will fight until the military regime falls", said an officer from the Chin Dwin Galone Yarzar guerillas force.

Currently, junta troops have arrested 14 locals to use as human shields. They could not be contacted.