Civilians Abducted by Burmese Army Troops As Battles Rage on in Kachin and Shan States

In Kachin State, clashes reportedly erupted between KIA’s 6th Battalion troops under 2nd Brigade and Burmese army troops belonging to 261st Light Infantry Battalion(LIB) along the road leading to the village monastery in Si En between Kamaing and Kahtan Yang approximately at 8:15 a.m. on January 24, a frontline KLN source reported.

Similarly, KIA troops reportedly engaged Burmese army troops belonging to 261st LIB led by by Major Tin Aung Moe as his troops attempted to infiltrate through KIA’s defense lines.

Following the skirmish, Burmese Army troops from 261st LIB seized two villagers, Mr. Lapyaw Hkawng Dau and Mr. Mahaw Dau Gyung, when they were searching for wild fruits in Chyahkrau village. Both men are just ordinary civilians looking for food near their village, reported a local source.

So far, a total of six villagers have been abducted by the same Burmese army troops, the KLN has learned.

Meanwhile, in northern Shan State on January 24, KIA’s 34th Battalion troops under 4th Brigade fought Burmese army troops from 88th Light Infantry Division making their advances in two columns while one of the columns was led by its commander.

The civilians from Nmau Hka and Mung Lwi villages have been living in great fear since the 400 strong Burmese army column led by the commander moved into their villages, local sources told KLN.

Similarly on January 25 early morning, Burmese army troops belonging to 45th LIB reportedly fired several heavy artillery rounds from their Kutkai Base.