Around 15 Myanmar junta soldiers have been reportedly killed in Magwe Region by a Yesagyo Revolution Group (YRG) member who ignited three grenades while they tried to detain him.
Nearly 80 soldiers were deployed at Thae Taw village monastery on the border of Yesagyo and Pakokku townships on Friday evening after clashes with resistance forces, including the YRG, in the morning.
The YRG member and a village defense force volunteer on a motorbike encountered the troops near Thae Taw, according to the YRG.
They did not know troops were deployed in the village.
The motorcycle overturned near the monastery. The YRG member exploded three hand grenades as soldiers approached, according to the resistance group. The resistance member was killed in the explosions.
It claimed seven soldiers were killed instantly and another eight later died in hospital.
The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.
The junta troops left Thae Taw on Saturday, according to the YRG.
“He wasn’t a combatant and was in the supply force but he always carried three grenades. He always said that he would die instead of being captured,” said Ko Zero of the YRG.
The YRG refused to release its comrade’s details until the revolution is victorious to protect his family.
Thae Taw had around 500 houses and all the villagers fled to forests and other villages last month.
“We heard gunfire and explosions in the evening. We are all saddened to hear about the YRG member,” said a resident.
Yesagyo is a resistance stronghold which has suffered regular junta raids and arson attacks since January.
Junta troops regularly raid the southwest of the township, displacing thousands of civilians.
