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, with the entire column being destroyed, according to a responsible official from the Bagan Byuhar Force. The battle took place on March 14 at 1:30 PM when revolutionary forces attacked the military column between Htauk Wa village and Ohyin village. During the battle, 69 soldiers were killed on the spot, while 5 additional soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee militia members who were severely wounded and taken 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 engagement. Only three soldiers managed to escape by forcibly stealing civilians’ motorcycles and fleeing to the Nga Tharauk police station. A large cache of weapons and ammunition was seized during the battle. Although the military council attempted to provide air support during the battle, they arrived only after the resistance forces had already reached secure positions, preventing any aerial bombardment. The operation was led by Comrade Byat Wi from the Bagan Byuhar Force and Comrade Nga Tae from the Burmese Guerrilla Force, with joint participation from multiple resistance groups including the Bagan Byuhar Force, Burmese Guerrilla Force, Thaung Tha Township PDF, Scorpion People Defense Force, Nyaung-U District Battalion 5, and Myingyan District Battalion 3.
During the engagement, one resistance fighter was killed and another was wounded. Additionally, authorities have warned that there have been reports of fraudulent activities in the Nyaung-U District, with some individuals falsely claiming to represent the Bagan Byuhar Force to collect donations and extort money from civilians. The public has been requested to report any such incidents to the appropriate authorities. The Bagan Byuhar Force has emphasized that they do not have any subsidiary units and do not engage in financial extortion, encouraging people to provide support only through their official channels, such as their Page Messenger, where they can safely contribute to the resistance movement.
