A combined force of multiple Chin resistance groups successfully destroyed all of the vehicles in a Burma army convoy traveling from Kalay town in Sagaing Region to Hakha town in Chin state.
The military convoy was carrying a resupply of food rations and weapons for Burma army soldiers based in Hakha town.
The Burma army convoy consisted of around 30 vehicles including two tanks. The convoy departed from Kalay town in Sagaing Region on 7 March. Chin resistance groups have repeatedly attacked the military convoy as it travelled along the Kalay – Falam – Hakha vehicle road. Chin resistance forces attacked the convoy with landmines, drones, and ground troop ambushes.
“Combined forces of Chin resistance groups repeatedly hit the military convoy along the vehicle road. On 13 April, we successfully destroyed all vehicles in the military convoy including two tanks, trucks and a bulldozer. No vehicles from the military convoy were able to enter into Hakha,” Salai Htet Ni, spokesperson for the Chin National Front / Chin National Army (CNF/CNA), told Khonumthung News.
Intense battles occurred between the Chin resistance groups and the junta soldiers in the convoy on the section of the road between Falam town and Hakha town. By 11 April, the Chin resistance groups had destroyed more than 10 vehicles from the convoy. On 13 April, the resistance groups destroyed all remaining vehicles in the military convoy during a clash in Chun Cung village in Hakha Township.
CNF/CNA spokesperson Salai Htet Ni said that there were approximately 200 Burma army soldiers in the military convoy when it departed from Kalay town, but only 40 soldiers remain in the convoy. Salai Htet Ni estimates that 120 Burma army soldiers from the convoy were killed when they were traveling from Kalay town to Hakha town.
“We cannot confirm the exact number of Burma army soldiers remaining in the military convoy, but we estimate there are only about 40 soldiers remaining out of the original 200 soldiers. I assume that about 120 Burma army soldiers have been killed during the multiple clashes fought along the vehicle road,” Salai Htet Ni told Khonumthung News.
Normally a trip from Kalay town to Hakha town would take about one day, but the Burma army’s military convoy could not yet arrive in Hakha town even though it has been travelling for more than a month. At the moment, the military convoy is staying in Chun Cung village, which is located 17 miles north of Hakha town.
Salai Htet Ni said that the Burma army launched airstrikes around Chun Cung village in the morning and afternoon of 13 April after suffering many causalities during the fighting there.
Local sources report that the Burma army has sent reinforcement troops to rescue the military convoy from Chun Cung village.