At least three junta soldiers were reportedly killed and several troops wounded during a shootout with civilian resistance fighters in Talokmyo of Myingyan Township of Mandalay Region on Tuesday.
The shootouts began about 2 p.m. on Tuesday when 13 vehicles loaded with more than 100 junta troops approached Talokmyo, a community comprised of four villages, and attempted to enter the village without reason, a local resident told the Irrawaddy.
During the firefight, three junta troops were reportedly killed. Several troops were injured, while two civilian resistance fighters were wounded, according to local sources.
However, The Irrawaddy was not able to confirm the military casualties independently.
After being reinforced in the evening with about six more vehicles loaded with troops from Myingyan, junta forces continued firing on the villagers resisting them at the entrance of Talokmyo beginning about 6 p.m.
“They are deliberately shooting us. This is not the first time. This is third time they tried to enter the village,” a resident told the Irrawaddy.
Due to the shootouts, hundreds of villagers including women, children and elderly have fled their homes.
The junta troops who were wounded in the shootout have been treated at the hospital in Myingyan, a witness also told The Irrawaddy.
In addition, about 13 explosions rocked several locations in Myingyan Town including state-owned offices and schools while the shootout was occurring at Talokmyo, 15.4 kilometers away.
On April 19, a shootout also occurred between the residents and junta troops in Myingyan. At least six junta soldiers and three civilians were killed in that clash.
Between March 3 and April 17, about 25 peaceful anti-regime protesters and bystanders in Myingyan have been slain by junta soldiers and police during their deadly crackdowns and random shootings.
Now, Myanmar is seeing armed resistance on the part of civilians against the junta troops in several townships in Sagaing, Mandalay, Magwe regions and Chin State.
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