Junta military troops are burning and destroying villages near Mya Thein Tan Pagoda, including Min Kun village in Sagaing Township, Sagaing Region, according to locals and resistance officials.
The junta troops reportedly began destroying these villages at around 12 noon on 23 July.
A local said, “They are the junta soldiers who came in motor vessels. They joined forces with those from Sagaing and started burning in Min Kun. There is no fighting, they are just doing this as part of their clearance operation. I think they are doing this out of fear that the resistance forces from Sagaing might advance to Mandalay”
According to a local, two military columns – one that left Sagaing and another that set out from Mandalay last week in motor vessels – have joined forces and are advancing through villages, setting them on fire.
The Wetlet Informational Network reported that junta troops stationed in Min Kun village are also burning and destroying the southern and northern parts of the village, as well as Ywar Thit and Shar Shaung villages.
Currently, most of the residents of Min Kun village and surrounding areas have fled to safety, while the exact condition of the burned houses and subsequent situation cannot yet be confirmed in detail.
Since 17 July, when Singu town was captured by resistance forces last week, the junta has taken advantage of the rising water level of the Irrawaddy River to conduct military operations mainly along the river.
An official from the Wetlet Informational Network said, “There is no major fighting. They have been moving along the river from Mandalay to Sagaing with five vessels for about a week. The defense forces have also captured villages above Min Kun, so the route to Madaya is now open. They only have the river route available and dare not stay in one place”
The Min Kun area in Sagaing is on the west bank of the Irrawaddy River, on the border between Sagaing and Mandalay Regions.
Madaya town, where the resistance forces are conducting operations, is on the other bank of the Irrawaddy River and is about an hour away, according to locals.
On 17 July, the junta lost control of Singu town to the Mandalay People’s Defense Forces (MDY-PDF) and allied forces, marking the first capture of a town in Mandalay Region by the defense forces.
Also on 16 July, resistance forces attacked the Min Kun police station, resulting in junta casualties. Junta troops from Madaya township reportedly provided artillery support during the battle.
Sent by NMG.