Around 1,000 civilian resistance fighters using homemade hunting rifles reportedly attacked about 60 junta troops deployed at the Tayaw Kyin village beside the Monywa-Kalaywa Highway
TFM Desk
At least 30 Myanmar troops were reportedly killed during two fierce encounters with civilian resistance fighters in Kani and Yinmabin townships in the Sagaing region bordering Northeast India, said an agency report on Thursday.
According to IANS report quoting local residents, around 1,000 civilian resistance fighters using homemade hunting rifles attacked about 60 junta troops deployed at the Tayaw Kyin village beside the Monywa-Kalaywa Highway on Tuesday.
The village, located on the border of the two townships, was raided by the Myanmar troops in search for hidden weapons, said the report.
During the six-hour shoot-out, about 10 troops were killed, commander of a local resistance force, said a villager.
On Wednesday evening, 60 soldiers sent to reinforce the original raiding party were ambushed as the detachment headed out of Monywa towards the village.
The reinforcements hit five locally made landmines on the Monywa-Kalaywa highway, said the report.
About 20 junta troops were killed in the explosions and the gunfire from resistance fighters, said the report.
Angry soldiers burned down eight houses near Bant Bway in retaliation, it added.
The report further said that about 100 troops were now combing the forests around the sites of the encounters. They were searching all houses along the highway and the adjoining forests and opening fire indiscriminately. The source anticipated many civilian casualties in these random firings.