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KAREN STATE – According to local residents, 5 local residents were injured when a heavy weapon hit them in a fight near Mailon village, Leiktho township Subdivision, Thantaunggyi Township.
At around 12:00 noon on January 1st, the KNLA joint forces attacked the junta council troops stationed in Mailon village, and the fighting was fierce, and there was shooting by heavy weapons from both sides.
Locals said that during the battle, a large number of heavy weapons were fired from the junta council’s camp in Zalei and the junta council’s camp near Leiktho.
“The battle was fierce. Heavy weapons were fired at each other. The junta army fired more. As far as we know, there were also casualties. The exact number of victims is not known,” said a local.
While the fighting was going on, one heavy weapon exploded on the home of U Pho Pya, 59, from Korpat Chan village. Because of the explosion, U Phoe Pya, His wife Naw Wah Htoo, 55, Son Saw Soe Lin Khaing, 8 years old, Naw Ma Law, 64, Saw Pyae Phyo Aung, 10, were injured in eyes, leg, neck and on the chest by shrapnels.
In addition, at least 7 houses in Mailon and Kopat Chan villages were damaged by heavy weapons.
During the battle, both junta army and the KNU/KNLA joint forces suffered casualties.
Currently, the two sides are under military tension, and due to the fighting, around 1,000 local residents have been forced to flee to the jungles and Leiktho town.
According to a local news media, there are frequent clashes in Thandaunggyi Township, and about ten thousands of local residents have been fleeing the war for more than a year due to heavy weapons attacks and airstrikes by the terrorist army.