A military column entering Nga Tharauk sub-township in Nyaung-U District, Mandalay Region was ambushed by resistance forces, resulting in the death of 74 soldiers and militia members while the entire column was destroyed, according to a spokesperson from the Bagan Bilu Force. The battle took place on March 14 at 1:30 PM when revolutionary forces attacked the military column between Htauk Wa and Ohyin villages. During the engagement, 69 soldiers were killed in action, while 5 additional soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee militia members who were severely wounded and transported to Nyaung-U hospital later died on the morning of March 16.
The military column consisted of approximately 80 personnel and was completely destroyed during the battle. Only three soldiers managed to escape by forcibly stealing motorcycles from civilians and fleeing to the Nga Tharauk police station. The resistance forces also captured a significant cache of weapons and ammunition during the operation. The battle began at 1:30 PM and concluded after about two hours of fighting at around 3:30 PM. Although the military council attempted to provide air support, they arrived after the resistance forces had already withdrawn to secure locations, preventing any aerial bombardment from taking place.
The operation was led by Comrade Byat Wi and Comrade Nga Tae, the PDF military commanders of Nyaung-U Township, with joint forces including the Bagan Bilu Force, Burmese Guerrilla Force, Thaung Tha Township PDF, Scorpion People’s Defense Force, Nyaung-U District Battalion 5, and Myingyan District Battalion 3. During the battle, one PDF member was killed and another was wounded. The resistance forces have also warned the public about fraudulent groups using the Bagan Bilu Force name to extort money and collect unauthorized donations, emphasizing that they do not engage in such activities and encouraging people to verify and coordinate support through their official channels.
