Resistance forces ‘wipe out’ entire Myanmar junta column in Sagaing’s Budalin Township

Anti-regime groups killed and captured dozens of regime soldiers in an ambush carried out in Sagaing Region’s Budalin Township on Monday, according to resistance sources. The attack, targeting a column of around 80 junta troops stationed in Ku Taw, a village about 13 miles north of the town of Budalin, left at least 20 dead and resulted in the capture of around 50, the sources said. “Nearly the entire column was wiped out, but a few of them managed to escape,” said Ko Nyan, deputy commander of one of the resistance groups involved. “This marks a major victory for resistance forces fighting the junta in Anyar,” he added, referring to Myanmar’s arid central plains, regarded as the heartland of the country’s ethnic Bamar majority. A coalition of groups from several Sagaing Region townships, including Budalin, Yinmarbin, Kani, Depayin, and Ayadaw, took part in the attack on the column. “We intercepted the column as it was leaving Ku Taw for Budalin. Many of them surrendered because they had suffered heavy losses and had no other choice,” said Ko Nyan, adding that some of those captured were recently conscripted recruits. Myanmar’s military began forcibly recruiting civilians earlier this year in a bid to replace troops killed or wounded in battle, as well as those lost to defections, desertions, and mass surrenders. Many have reportedly been sent directly to the frontlines after completing their basic training. A junta soldier is taken prisoner after surrendering to resistance forces in Sagaing Region’s Budlain Township on September 30 (Supplied) The column that was attacked had been sent to Ku Taw late last month as reinforcements following an assault on the junta’s base in the village on September 20. On the way to Ku Taw and after arriving there, it raided several other villages, killing both civilians and resistance fighters and torching at least 19 houses. Airstrikes prevented the anti-regime forces from intercepting the column when it first arrived in the area, but when it left to return to Budalin on Monday, it soon found itself surrounded and unable to escape, according to a local resident. “This column treated civilians cruelly on its way here, so resistance forces positioned themselves to intercept it on its return. They were up against so many [anti-regime] troops that they couldn’t move at all,” said the local. Despite receiving air support from junta warplanes sent from the Shante air base in Meiktila, the column was soon overwhelmed and forced to surrender, he added. Other sources told Myanmar Now that the resistance forces suffered only minor injuries while carrying out the ambush. The regime has not released any statement regarding the rout of its troops near Ku Taw. As of Tuesday, there were no signs that junta forces in Budalin were preparing a counteroffensive. Resistance forces control most of Budalin Township apart from Ku Taw and the town of Budalin, which is about 20 miles north of Sagaing Region’s capital, Monywa. The junta’s Northwestern Regional Military Command is also headquartered in Monywa.

Resistance forces ‘wipe out’ entire Myanmar junta column in Sagaing’s Budalin Township

More than half of the column of around 80 troops was reportedly forced to surrender, while at least 20 were killed

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