Chin resistance fighters are searching for State Administration Council (SAC) soldiers who managed to flee after their camp was captured during an offensive in Matupi Township.
Salai Naing John, working with Matupi’s Chinland Defence Force information department, mentioned that due to this development, more fighting could potentially erupt in the area along the Matupi to Paletwa road. “We are working to clear the area for locals to return to their homes as soon as possible,” he informed Khonumthung News.
On the morning of December 18, Matupi, Mindat Lautu CDFs, and the Chin National Defence Force jointly launched an offensive named Vui Bawk (White Elephant), successfully seizing Htebwe camp from SAC’s Infantry Battalion 304 a little over 24 hours later.
During the intense fighting on the first day, the resistance deployed improvised drones fitted with explosives for attacks. Salai Peter Ling from the Matupi CDF was killed, and another Chin fighter was wounded during the clashes.
While the regime sustained casualties, the Chin fighters did not discover any bodies in the camp.
However, they did capture heavy and light weaponry from Htebwe, which is strategically located on a crucial transportation route for the movement of food and weapons to other SAC positions in the township and northern Rakhine State.
After taking the camp, SAC utilized jet fighters to launch attacks on both Van Kai and Lay Hsin, resulting in the death of four civilians in the former village and the injury of a villager.
Salai Naing John emphasized that the presence of the camp, housing around 40 SAC soldiers, posed challenges for both locals and resistance fighters to navigate the area because of its position. This is why they needed to eliminate this threat.