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SAGAING DIVISION – According to the locals, five PDF members and a civilian were reportedly killed when junta troops blocked, arrested, and killed them in Pinmalut and Naku Villages on December 15 and 20.
On December 20, around 7 a.m., three drone force members of Moetah District PDF, who went to attack the military council forces at Naku (aka Mingalarthukha) Village, were arrested and killed after facing the military council’s ambush patrol.
“After killing the PDF members, military soldiers even wrote on the bodies, “Tiger-Ogre Column,” said a local. We got their bodies back but the equipment (a drone, two handmade barreled rifles, one Type 81 (Paris) rifle and a short gun) were confiscated by junta troops,” reported a resident of Indaw.
Moreover, on December 16, around 6 a.m., the junta troops from Division 88 raided a house in Pinmalut Village, six miles away from Katha Town, and arrested two PDF members and the house owner (civilian). The victims were reportedly tortured and murdered by having their throats cut near a creek in the village at around 8 a.m.
“The neighbors were ordered to stay so that could hear the cry of torture. I heard the screams, The victims had their nails removed and their fingers were cut into pieces with knives. Junta troops didn’t kill them immediately but after the brutal torture. One of the victims was cut till the bones can be see-through,” said a woman close to the defence forces.
Brang Choi, in charge of communication and information of Katha PDF, Comrade Jet Li (aka Aung Kyaw Htay), and the house owner man were killed and four houses in the village were reportedly burned down.
The 88th Division and SNA joint column advanced to Moetah, Naba Intersection, and Naku (Mingalarthukha) Villages on December 20 morning and is currently, retreating towards Katha City.
In addition, on December 20 morning, a 17-year-old resident of Kapalate Village was killed and there others were injured when heavy weapons were fired from the military council station in Kyauktine field, Katha Town, as reported by a resident of Indaw.