KACHIN STATE – The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Kachin People’s Defence Force (KPDF) joint forces captured the base of junta infantry 46 in Sumprabum early Sunday (May 5) morning.
“Sumprabum is sold out (captured by revolutionary forces),” commented Mr. Chan Jaw Yam, an official of Kharkarbo PDF and the Rawang Ethnic Affairs Minister who won a seat in the 2020 general election.
Kachin military sources confirmed that the junta infantry 46 base in Sumprabum, stationed by over 200 junta forces and Pyithusit militants, was completely captured on May 5 around 8 a.m., adding that it was the last junta base in the town and that the town is now under complete control of revolutionary forces.
“Infantry 46 was deployed together with Putao Strategic Base. There are no more (junta) battalions in Sumprabum. We surrounded them and made sure they couldn’t make any move till they ran away today (May 5). We blocked off their supplies and asked them to surrender but they didn’t,” explained a Kachin military source.
KIA and KPDF first attacked infantry 46 base in mid March and laid siege to the second line of defense by the end of April then captured the entire base in the first week of May, according to a source close to KPDF. It is said that Khaunglanhpu Pyithusit militia joined the junta council during the battle.
A KPDF soldier shared that they asked the Pyithusit members to surrender but the militants refused, so they had to continue with the battle.
The junta infantry base was successfully captured despite the intense airstrikes by the junta council and KIA and KPDF are said to be carrying out clearance operations in the area.
It is reported that there were junta casualties as well as POWs but the exact details are not known yet.
KIA and KPDF is currently attacking the junta camp at Kagam Village in Waingmaw Township and have reportedly also surrounded Gidon Hill in the area that was captured by junta forces in 2016 December.