A military column entering Nga Tharauk sub-township in Nyaung-U District, Mandalay Region, was ambushed and destroyed by resistance forces, resulting in the death of 74 soldiers and militia members, according to a spokesperson from the Bagan Bilu Force. The battle took place on March 14 at 1:30 PM between Htauk Wa village and Ohyin village, where revolutionary forces intercepted and attacked the incoming military column. During the engagement, 69 soldiers were killed on the spot, 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 in the operation. Only three soldiers managed to escape by forcibly stealing motorcycles from civilians and fleeing to the Nga Tharauk police station. The resistance forces seized a significant cache of weapons and ammunition during the battle. The engagement 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the military council attempted to provide air support, they arrived only after the resistance forces had already withdrawn to secure locations, preventing any effective aerial bombardment. The operation was led by PDF Military Commander Byat Wi from the Bagan Bilu Force and Comrade Nga Tae, with joint participation from various resistance groups including the Bagan Bilu Force, Burmese Guerrilla Force, Thaung Tha Township PDF, Scorpion People Defense Force, Nyaung-U District Battalion 5, and Myingyan District Battalion 3.
During the operation, one resistance fighter was killed and another was wounded. The resistance forces have also issued warnings about fraudulent activities in the Nyaung-U District, where some individuals are reportedly using the Bagan Bilu Force’s name to collect unauthorized donations and extort money from civilians. The Bagan Bilu Force has emphasized that they do not engage in such activities and have urged the public to report any such incidents through their official channels. They have also clarified that they have no subsidiary units authorized to collect funds and that legitimate support can be provided through their official page messenger service.
