The junta is inspecting houses they suspect in villages near Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, and has also set up checkpoints within the city to collect taxes.
Following the phone and internet outages on 21 July, rumors circulated that the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allied forces would attack Myitkyina city. As a result, junta troops have been seen moving through villages, including Shweset, Namkying, Palana, and Mawphaung.
A resident from Shweset Ward said to Kachin News Group(KNG): “I don't see them(junta troops) every day, but I usually see them once or twice a week. I see them more in the Salmaing and Namkying areas. There's a group of about 40-50 junta troops with guns. That's why young people are afraid to go to Namkying and Salmaing areas.”
In addition, approximately 50 junta soldiers are stationed at a school in Salmaing village.
According to a taxi driver in Myitkyina, the junta is conducting nighttime scouting with aircraft and heavy artillery shelling suspected areas within the city.
A motorcycle taxi driver said: “ No drones. They(the junta) have scouting aircraft. Those scouting aircraft patrol the city and its surroundings every night at around 6:30 or 7 p.m. Soon after the scouting aircraft lands, they start shelling at places they suspect.”
Due to the military operations in villages including Namkying, Salmaing, Shweset, Palana, and Mawphaung, some residents have relocated towards the city.
