In Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region, ongoing clashes between the military council forces and People’s Defense Forces have resulted in the killing of three civilians, including a 12-year-old child, while more than thirty civilians have been taken as human shields, according to local resistance forces. Beginning February 19, a military column comprising soldiers from Artillery Unit 6006 and Pyusawhti members from the Wathawa group, operating from Military Base Camp 9 along the Shwebo-Myitkyina strategic route, has been conducting raids on villages in the area.
The military column, consisting of over 200 personnel, began their operation by entering Pay Gyi village at 8 AM on February 19 and has since established a temporary base there, continuing to burn and destroy the village. They have detained more than thirty villagers, including elderly people, women, and children, as human shields. On February 23, they arrested three residents from Ngetpyawting village and killed all of them, including a 12-year-old child, as confirmed by local sources. On the morning of February 28, Kanbalu District Battalion 4 and local revolutionary forces launched an attack against the military council forces temporarily stationed in Pay Gyi village, though casualties on the military council’s side could not be confirmed.
Currently, due to the military council’s operations in Kanbalu Township, more than 5,000 residents from over eight villages have been forced to flee their homes, while the military continues to occupy Pay Gyi village. According to local resistance forces, the increasing presence of Pyusawhti members and the strengthening of Wathawa’s militia forces in Kanbalu Township has created a need for more effective support for revolutionary forces in the area. The situation continues to deteriorate as the military council maintains its aggressive operations against civilian populations, causing widespread displacement and humanitarian concerns in the region.
