SAGAING DIVISION – Locals stated that the junta troop set fire to Shar Yaung Village at the northern side of Mya Thein Tan Pagoda after three junta thugs died in Min Kun, Sagaing Township, Sagaing Division.
On Tuesday (July 23) morning, there was a battle exchanging fire between the People Defence Force and the junta forces as over 100 junta forces of junta soldiers, police, and Pyu Saw Htee (junta-backed militia) launched the military operation, resulting in three junta thugs’ deaths including one junta’s police surveillance officer and many injuries. After the stated attack, the junta soldiers, police, and Pyu Saw Htee are said to have torched Shar Yaung Village situated at the northern side of Mya Thein Tan Pagoda.
“When the junta police and Pyu patrolled in the morning and saw the People Defence Force’s (PDF) car, they released fire toward PDF. But as PDF could initiate the attack and counterattack the junta thugs, one junta police officer and two Pyu were killed and there were many injuries on the junta side. After that happened, junta dogs (soldiers), police, and Pyu entered and burnt Shar Yaung Village, the northern side of Mya Thein Tan Pagoda. They have been stationed there till now. We cannot go back to the Village,” one of the locals elaborated.
In addition, while the junta thugs, police, and Pyu Saw Htee (s) were torching the Shar Yaung Village, the junta’s air force carried out the airborne attack with jet fighters. Due to the junta forces’ arson attack on Shar Yaung Village, the historical Mya Thein Tan Pagoda reportedly caught fire a little and the flame from Min Kun’s side could even be seen from Mandalay Hill’s side.
“We still have not yet heard any harm on civilians. Civilians had already fled away from the villages in advance since they heard junta’s arson attack plan. The historical Mya Thein Ta Pagoda is also said to have caught fire a little bit and had damages. Many jet fighters have kept flying overhead,” a local said.
