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SHAN STATE – After the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and joint forces captured the town of Mabein in northern Shan State, the junta council is preparing defenses at Ngaoh Village that is located between Mabein Township and Sagaing’s Katha Township, reported the locals.
KIA, KPDF, ABSDF and PDF forces first attacked Mabein Town on January 19 and successfully captured it three days later on January 21 morning. Mabein is in northern Shan State bordering both Kachin State and Sagaing Division.
According to the 2019 data, Mabein Town has a population of 4,359 while 37,276 people reside in the villages in Mabein Township, coming up to a total of over 41,000 people living in the township.
Ngaoh Village is part of Mabein Township but is closer to Katha City in Sagaing Division. It is a huge village with a population of over 11,000 according to the 2014 census. Local residents reported that the junta forces were setting up heavy weapons at junta infantry 121 based on Ngaoh Village and also carried out reckless shellings.
“Things are busy in the junta base at Ngaoh. We heard from the battalion that they are preparing defenses. They also wildly fired heavy weapons last night (January 21),” said a resident of Ngaoh Village.
Locals said that residents of Ngaoh Village are fleeing to Katha as a result.
All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) announced that they had attacked and captured Mabein Town alongside KIA, KPDF and PDF forces.
A responsible person from Katha Township People’s Administration Body has advised the people to be aware of the rising military tensions at the border of northern Shan State, Kachin State and Sagaing Division.