Unidentified attackers on Friday night launched an assault on a pagoda compound used as a temporary base by regime troops in Yangon’s Thaketa Township, in the latest in a series of attacks on junta forces in urban areas.
Local residents said at least four soldiers and a civilian were injured during the attack. The Irrawaddy was unable to confirm the causalities by Saturday morning, however.
The residents told The Irrawaddy the unknown armed men raided the pagoda compound at around 7:30 p.m., with the sounds of explosions followed by shooting in which dozens of rounds were exchanged until 8:30 p.m.
“We heard bomb blasts twice first, before the shooting began. The regime’s troops were in chaos because of the sudden attack. They shouted very loudly and fired back at residential areas,” a witness told The Irrawaddy.
“Many residents saw that four soldiers were injured during the shootout and a civilian passing by was also injured in the leg,” he said.
Regime troops have been using the pagoda compound in Thaketa as a base since launching a deadly crackdown on anti-coup protesters in Yangon in March, according to the residents.
The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services had not made any announcement relating to the attack as of Saturday afternoon.
The military regime has been facing a growing challenge from civilian resistance forces in several regions and states including Sagaing, Mandalay and Magwe regions and Chin and Kayah states.
Moreover, there have been an increasing number of explosions and attacks targeting junta forces and their informants in urban areas.
Among Yangon townships, Thaketa has witnessed some of the strongest civilian resistance to the military regime. It has seen a series of bomb blasts this week, with at least five occurring on Thursday alone, including one at the home of the administrator of Man Pyay No. 3 Ward. The junta-appointed ward administrator was shot dead by an unknown armed man. On May 3, the military-appointed administrator of No. 7 Ward in the township was stabbed to death by three men.
A statement from civilian resistance forces in Yangon widely circulated on social media urged people to avoid popular public spaces such as fun fairs and not to take too long when dining at restaurants. People have also been warned to stay away from junta soldiers and their informants.
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