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SAGAING DIVISION – It is reported that two junta columns raided Pyinhtaunglay Village in Katha Township on Tuesday (September 5) morning and torched the houses.
Locals reported that around 200 junta forces from infantry (IB) 121 based in Ngaoh Village at the border of Katha Township and Shan State’s Mabein Township invaded the village at around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
“They invaded Pyinhtaunglay (Village) under cover of gunfire. They were those from IB 121. They were setting fire to civilian homes,” said a member of Katha Township People’s Administration Body (PAB).
Pyinhtaunglay Village is located on the bank of the Shweli River. A member of the People’s Defence Force (PDF) shared that the junta forces raided the village via the bridge.
“A drone attack was launched five minutes after reports of them leaving IB 121 in Ngaoh (Village). There were no casualties. They ransacked the monastery school and the village. Their arson burned down around 20 homes as well as the village clinic,” said the PDF member.
Katha District PDF Battalion 3 is then reported to have attacked those junta troops with heavy weapons at 12 noon, leading to an exchange of fire.
As of September 3 evening, one of the junta columns is reported to have made up in Pyinhtaunglay Village while the other column left towards Ingyi Village.
The junta council’s attempts to deliver rations and ammunition to IB 121 via land routes in the last week of August were intercepted by KIA (Kachin Independence Army) and PDF joint forces on August 28. The ensuing battle from August 28 to 30 had killed at least nine junta troops and injured around 15, according to reports by Katha PAB.