Two People’s Defence Force (PDF) groups teamed up to attack a column of junta soldiers in the northern part of Sagaing Region last week, according to an officer from one of the groups.
The groups, from Sagaing’s Katha Township and neighbouring Kachin State’s Myohla Town, killed 10 junta soldiers using light weapons and explosives in the March 3 attack near Mhat Taing village in Katha.
Thamani, an officer from the Katha PDF, said one member of his group was wounded in his leg by a bullet during the clash, which started at around 8am.
The junta column was made up of some 70 soldiers from Light Infantry Division 88, which is based in Magway Region, and was marching from Chaung Wa village to Myohla when it was attacked, he added.
On February 5 and 6, the Kyatha and Myohla PDFs attacked the same column while it was stationed at the village of Nam Seng, which is close to Mhat Taing. Twenty junta soldiers died in those attacks, the groups said at the time.
A local woman who is close to the PDF told Myanmar Now that the military has been training around 50 people from villages in Katha to make explosives, and that on March 2 at least ten explosions were heard around the township.
Myanmar Now was unable to independently verify her claim.
In a separate attack on the evening of March 2, the Katha PDF said it shot and injured two soldiers on guard duty in front of the military-owned Myanma Economic Bank in Katha Township.
Last week the junta cut off internet access to all but four of Sagaing Region’s 27 townships.
