Fighting is taking place between the military council and a combined force of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) in Shwegu Township of Kachin State.
The military council arrests civilians and has cut off electricity and mobile phone lines, according to locals.
The military council arrested around 30 locals after a clash between a combined force of the KIA and the PDF and the military council stationed between Simulay and Simugyi villages, a local woman from Shwegyu told the Kachin News Group (KNG).
“The number of detained civilians from Nantlan village has exceeded 30 civilians. All detainees are males. The people don’t dare to live in the villages due to ongoing fighting. They got arrested when they encountered the military column while they were returning home. The military council has not released the detainees,” she said.
The military council has cut off electricity and mobile phone services—Atom, Mytel and MPT—in Shwegu Township which sees military tension.
“Since 27 March till now, electricity has been cut off in the areas which see the growing military tension. I have never experienced such a power blackout.
Electricity blackouts are taking place in the whole Shwegu and villages. But there is no power blackout in Bhamo,” a local from Shwegu told the KNG.
The detained civilians are from Nantlan, Naunglatgyi and Winwa villages.
Since 23 March, a military column of more than 100 soldiers from Division-77 and Division-10 have been conducting military operations along the village in the eastern part of Shwegu Township.
Tension mounts between the military council and a combined force of the KIA and the PDF. More than four battles are recorded till date.
Thousands of locals have fled to nearby villages as the junta soldiers are stationed in around eight villages in the eastern part of Shwegu Township.
Sent by KNG.