An attack on a police station in Sagaing Region’s Salingyi Township on Sunday left four regime troops and two resistance fighters dead, according to groups involved in the assault.
Around 100 troops from an alliance of local defences forces raided the police station in the village of Kyar Tat at around 6am, triggering nearly five hours of fighting, the anti-junta forces said.
The village, which is located about 25km southwest of the town of Salingyi, lies near the border of Magway Region in an area linking several townships.
The attack was carried out by the Salingyi Special Task Force (SSTF), People’s Defence Force (PDF) groups from Magway’s Myaing and Yesagyo townships, and a group calling itself the Myanmar Royal Dragon Army.
One of the fighters who was killed was from the SSTF and the other was a member of the Yesagyo PDF, according to an officer of the SSTF. Both were cremated on Monday, he added.
Five other resistance fighters received minor injuries. Several junta troops were also wounded.
The fighting ended at around 11am, when the resistance groups retreated after fighter jets appeared and started carrying out airstrikes.
“We ordered our forces to retreat as soon as we heard they were sending military aircraft. Two fighter jets launched airstrikes near the police station, but we managed to get away. Local villagers were also able to escape,” said the SSTF officer.
The Kyar Tat police station was previously attacked in late April. Now heavily fortified, there were around 40 junta soldiers and police stationed there when it was attacked on Sunday.
“The police station is on a road connecting several townships, and it is also a backup base for Pyu Saw Htee in the area,” said the Salingyi SSTF officer, referring to pro-junta militia groups.
According to locals, the Northwestern Regional Military Command, based in Monywa, airlifted around 50 soldiers into Kyar Tat by helicopter at around 4pm on Sunday.
More than 1,000 residents of five villages near Kyar Tat have been displaced by recent fighting, according to local sources.
