Anti-junta forces ambush junta column in Sagaing, capture 30 Troops

Resistance forces intercepted and attacked a junta military column in northern Sagaing Region's Katha Township this week, killing multiple soldiers and capturing around 30 troops, according to local sources.At around 3am Saturday, roughly 150 junta troops from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 309, based in Katha Town, began advancing toward Indaw, a town located about 16 miles to the west. The Indaw-Katha road has been the site of intense fighting since last year.At around 9am on the same day, The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and other smaller groups attacked the junta column near Pinmalut Village, about five miles west of Katha, according to a source close to the resistance groups."We received advance intelligence about their troop movements,” a source, who requested anonymity, told Myanmar Now. “That morning around 9am, we intercepted them and the battle began. They had split their forces as they advanced.The combined resistance forces included the KIA, the Kachin People's Defense Force (Kachin PDF), Battalion 1 of the National Unity Government's (NUG) Katha District, and the Katha People's Defense Organization.“They had to flee in disarray,” the source said. “The junta prisoners were captured by both the resistance forces and also troops with the EAOs (ethnic armed organisations)." He added that the clashes continued until the following day.Among the 30 junta prisoners captured were several officers, though the number of casualties has yet to be released. Two members of the Katha PDF were killed in the fighting.The incident comes amid a rising trend of junta troops being taken prisoner across Myanmar, as resistance forces intensify offensives nationwide.The source pointed out that the attack took the junta column completely off guard, with chaos ensuing. The military troops attempted to flee, but were intercepted and detained. On top of taking prisoners, the anti-junta forces seized two machine guns, an RPG, and numerous small arms.Resistance forces, including the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) and Indaw PDF, have been fighting to seize Indaw Town for nearly seven months, according to local sources.Clashes escalated on March 8, prompting the junta to send reinforcements. While joint resistance controls most of the town, junta troops continue to hold Japanese Cave Hill on the eastern side.In recent days, the junta has supplied ammunition and provisions to the Japanese Cave Hill position using Y-12 aircraft, a commonly utilised small plane that can perform airdrops, reconnaissance, and conduct aerial attacks."They sent reinforcements once before, not long after the Indaw battle started,” the source said. He noted that the junta continues to control Katha Town, while resistance forces control most of the surrounding villages.“Troops from LIB 309 managed to reach Indaw smoothly because KIA couldn't block them before” the source said. “This time, however, they didn't make it through.”

Anti-junta forces ambush junta column in Sagaing, capture 30 Troops

The KIA and other resistance groups overwhelmed a junta column in Sagaing, marking a growing trend of POW captures

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