Myanmar junta troops have ratcheted up their attacks in Magway’s Myaing township killing civilians, setting fire to oil fields, and forcing villagers to flee.

In the latest incidents, junta troops opened fire and also used heavy weapons on a car that drove through a checkpoint, resulting in three civilians being killed on the road between Tha Pyay Nyo Hmaw and Letpadaung villages in Myaing Township, Magway Division at 9 am on January 27.

A local resident said they chased and shot at the car as they assumed it was carrying People’s Defence Forces in it.

“They opened fire for 50 shots and they also shot with RPGs 10 times. Junta troops missed the car. Three nearby people were killed and others were injured. Our people are helpless and live in fear,” the resident told Mizzima.

The three men killed in the shooting were around 30 years old and their dead bodies were still at the scene of the shooting because nobody dares to go to collect them.

"Everyone is being ruthlessly accused as PDF members. Unarmed civilians were killed not only with guns but also with RPGs. Both young and old men were arrested. Nobody saves our Myaing township. Civilians live in fear and helplessness. We will die like this,” the resident added.

Meanwhile, more oil fields were set on fire near the Tayoke Kone field, east of Letpanto village after about 100 junta troops opened fire on the village.

The Military Council initially deployed 800 troops in Myaing township, starting January 14, and now more have been added. At present nearly 1,500 junta troops are raiding and destroying houses and killing innocent civilians for no reason, a local resident said.

Many of the residents of the villages in Myaing township rely on the makeshift oilfields to earn a living. Many of the fields have now been burnt and villagers have had to flee.