Chin resistance groups ambushed the Burma Army (BA) on the banks of the Thee Myit River between the towns of Hakha and Thangtlang, to which the regime responded as usual with excessive shelling of the groups and civilian areas in northern Chin State.
The BA have been stationed at a point on the river about seven miles from the Chin State capital since 27 July. A few days later, the Chin National Army (CNA) and Chinland Defence Forces (CDF) from Zophei, Hakha CDF and Thangtlang raided their camp.
“BA attacked Chin forces with artillery from Hakha yesterday (Monday). I think they fired about 30 shells yesterday and at least 6 shells today (Tuesday),” a local source told Khonumthung News on condition of anonymity.
According to the Chin forces, the regime suffered casualties in the six-hour attack on 1 August and the fighting the next day, but Khonumthung News couldn’t independently confirm this information at press time.
The following day, locals reported a gun battle at Myoma police station in Hakha, but couldn’t confirm which groups were responsible.
The BA is sending more soldiers to the Thee Myit River area and fighting is expected to escalate. Zophei CDF has warned locals to avoid travel in the area.
The PDF in Kalay said they killed at least 15 BA soldiers who were part of a military vehicle convoy attacked by the group as it travelled from the town to Tamu in the Sagaing Region along the Indian border.
The junta soldiers were travelling in four ordinary trucks and one 12-wheeler when they were ambushed at the 56-mile post and later near Nay Kyaw Lay. Ten soldiers were killed and three vehicles were completely destroyed. In a third ambush, five soldiers died and others were injured, the PDF reported.
The injured and the dead returned to Kalay by the lorry, while the rest of the convoy continued towards Tamu. The junta abducted three civilians in a rose garden near 56-mile post and a man in a restaurant in Nay Kyaw Lay.
The PDF told locals to avoid using the highway between 9pm to 5am.