A police corporal from Myatdaing police station in Paungde Township, Bago Region, escaped an ambush while returning from collecting protection money, but his motorcycle, weapons, and ammunition were seized, according to a spokesperson from the People’s Defense Force Battalion 3601. The incident occurred on March 8 at approximately 3:30 PM between Thame and Kontha villages in Paungde Township. Members of Battalion 3601’s 5th Company were waiting based on intelligence when Police Corporal Thein Lwin spotted the resistance fighters from a distance and abandoned his motorcycle to flee.
Although the revolutionary forces opened fire, Police Corporal Thein Lwin managed to escape by jumping into a nearby embankment, surviving the attack. Following the incident, resistance forces seized several items from the abandoned motorcycle, including three hand grenades, six rounds of various ammunition, a pair of handcuffs, 130,000 kyats in cash, a motorcycle registration book, police ID card, driver’s license, and various documents. According to local sources, Police Corporal Thein Lwin had been involved in forced military recruitment in villages under Myatdaing police station’s jurisdiction, extorting money from wealthy residents, and conducting arrests that resulted in deaths and imprisonments due to torture.
The spokesperson from the Pyay District People’s Defense Force urged members of the military council forces, police force, and Pyu Saw Htee militia to cease their violent activities and defect to the people’s side as soon as possible. The military council forces continue to commit acts of violence against civilians across various regions, and it is essential for them to stop these atrocities and join the movement for a just democratic system. The resistance forces emphasized that those who have been participating in the military council’s oppressive activities should recognize the importance of standing with the people in their struggle for democracy and justice.
The incident highlights the ongoing conflict between resistance forces and military council-affiliated security forces in Myanmar, where civilians continue to face various forms of oppression, including forced recruitment, extortion, and violence. The People’s Defense Forces maintain their commitment to protecting civilians while encouraging defections from military council forces to weaken the oppressive system and work toward establishing a democratic society that respects human rights and justice for all citizens.
