Daily clashes have been occurring along the Shwebo-Myitkyina road in Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region, from February 19 to March 4, resulting in at least 41 casualties from the military forces, according to local People’s Defense Force officials. The battles began when revolutionary forces engaged with a military column of approximately 300 personnel that departed from the Zikone Sugar Factory military outpost.
The military has taken about 30 civilians hostage from Paygyi village, including elderly people, women, and children, using them as human shields. On February 23, they arrested three villagers from Ngapyawdaing village, including a 12-year-old child, and subsequently killed all of them. The military column has also burned down Paygyi village three times. The ongoing conflict has severely impacted civilian areas along the strategic highway, with daily encounters between resistance forces and military troops.
On March 3 at approximately 6:30 AM, Kanbalu District Battalion 4 and PDF forces conducted a mine attack against a military convoy including Pyu Saw Htee militia members near Nawtaung village as it was moving along the Zikone-Malae road from the sugar factory. The attack resulted in exchanges of fire between both sides. Earlier, on February 28 morning, resistance forces attacked military troops temporarily stationed in Paygyi village, resulting in at least 10 military casualties. The continuous fighting has demonstrated the increasing intensity of conflict in the region, with resistance forces maintaining pressure on military movements along this strategic corridor.
