Nine junta soldiers were killed during a shootout with civilian resistance fighters in Kale Township, Sagaing Region, on Sunday afternoon.
The Kale People’s Defense Force (PDF) ambushed three military vehicles carrying about 50 troops on the Gangaw-Kale highway, according to the Kale PDF.
The troops traveling from Gangaw to Kale were ambushed between Thanphu and Khway Kyein villages.
Kale’s PDF said at least nine junta soldiers were killed while the resistance escaped without casualties.
The Irrawaddy was unable to confirm the casualties independently.
A nearby farmer was injured by a bullet, a Thanphu villager told the Irrawaddy on Monday.
A 56-year-old villager was detained by junta troops after the shootout with resistance fighters, saying he was not involved with the conflict.
Most of the 4,000 Thanphu villagers and several Khway Kyein villagers have fled their homes.
“We don’t want war as most people are sick and we have the danger of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those fleeing are suffering from hardships in the forest,” the resident said.
On Saturday afternoon, more than 20 military vehicles traveling from Gangaw to Kale were hit by landmines laid by Kale’s PDF on the Gangaw-Kale highway near Natchaung village.
There were military casualties in the attack, said Kale’s PDF.
Kale residents started to take up homemade firearms in early April after the junta started killing peaceful anti-regime protesters in Kale on March 2.
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