BAGO DIVISION – On the night of July 19, People’s Defense Forces (PDF) and junta council’s forces reportedly fired in Namza village in Kyauktaga Township, resulting in the death of 33 junta soldiers, according to local and pro-military sources.
A resident woman recalled that the battle took place around 12:00 midnight on July 19, when the military council attacked Namza village with 400 superior forces against PDF task force.
“The military side had more troops but more deaths counted on their side. The village was set on fire afterwards and more than 10 houses were burnt,” she further added.
Three villagers reported died as a result of the arson by the military council.
According to a military source, 33 members of the military council were killed in the Battle of Namza, including 3 members of the 264th Battalion Regiment.
An internal source close to the PDF force shared that the PDF retreated from the village owing to the concern that the village would be destroyed further by the military council troops, who were hurt in the battle and burned down the village intentionally.
Since last month, the People’s Defense Forces and the junta troops have been fighting continuously in the villages of Kyauktaga Township, which is close to the old Yangon-Mandalay highway.