Locals said the military council arrested 14 locals after a military column entered the Sagaing-Kachin border and burned houses, according to locals.
The military column torched six huts in Kalone village when it conducted a military operation from Htigyaing to Katha, according to locals.
A local man said:” The military column marched toward Thargara village. Six houses were burned down yesterday. This morning, one house was burned down.”
The military column which burned down huts in Kalone village also carried out indiscriminate firing of artillery shells into the eastern bank via Natin village in Htigyaing Township on 17 February.
From around 8.30 pm on 19 February till the evening of 20 February, the military council carried out arson and firing of heavy shells and light weapons in Kalone village, according to locals.
In addition, the military council arrested around 14 villagers and called for reopening the road by taking the detainees as hostages, the villagers said.
The military detained around 14 villagers including the people from Kalone village. The military said the detained villagers will be released only after the road is reopened.
The military council soldiers stand guard in the compound of a monastery in Kalone village and Ohntaw village between Kalone and Laybo villages in Katha Township. The junta soldiers have threatened the people in Kalone village to burn the houses if they fail to swift on the electricity, the villagers said.
Some locals don’t dare to return to their villages and are monitoring the situation from a distance.
From the first week of February till the third week of February, the military council has been carrying out military operations along the Sagaing-Kachin border.
The public flees to safer places as soon as they see the military column which is carrying out the burning of houses, arrests and killings of villagers and threats.
Sent by NMG