A Myanmar junta flotilla abandoned a stranded barge on Monday after five days of resistance attacks in Mawlaik Township, Sagaing Region, according to resistance groups.
Last Wednesday, five barges carrying timber and around 100 troops stopped on the Chindwin River near the Yu tributary in Mawlaik Township, after a barge loaded with logs became stuck on a sandbank, according to Mawlaik People’s Defense Force (PDF).
The flotilla was traveling from Homalin to Mawlaik.
Shootouts broke out with township resistance forces after the flotilla randomly opened fire to deter resistance ambushes, a resistance fighter told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday.
She said five days of attacks prevented junta troops from securing the riverbanks.
“We didn’t let the junta troops reach the riverbanks. Our forces took up positions along the banks,” she said.
Another barge’s bow was damaged by an 80mm resistance shell and four vessels headed to Mawlaik town, abandoning the stranded barge.
At least 13 regime troops were killed with no resistance casualties, the PDF said, adding that troops buried their dead comrades on the sandbanks.
The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.
On Saturday, resistance forces said they ambushed four junta vessels, including a barge carrying logs, in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region, while it was traveling from Monywa down the Chindwin.
The details of damage and casualties are unknown.
