Resistance groups in Paletwa forced the State Administration Council (SAC) to retreat after suffering at least ten fatalities in the township in southern Chin State.
Chinland Defense Forces from Paletwa and Matupi, and the Chin National Army, exchanged fire with SAC troops at Kapin Creek near Lon Pan village on January 20, killing at least three enemy soldiers and wounding five.
The regime soldiers were forced from Sami after the Arakan Army captured the town.
According to Matupi CDF, during a second clash with the same SAC column the next morning near San Tap, Chin fighters killed seven soldiers.
Following the incidents, SAC destroyed a hospital near the village and set medicine, as well as a generator and some motorcycles, on fire.
On January 22, regime soldiers arrested eight civilians, including five females, near a displaced camp in the area. Everyone was released the next day except three males.
Daai CDF recently arrived in Paletwa to help the other armed groups fighting SAC.
Due to connectivity issues, Khonumthung News was unable to reach Matupi CDF for more information about the fighting in southern Chin.