A five-hour clash on the border of Khin-U and Shwebo townships left numerous junta soldiers dead, including a lieutenant colonel, a lieutenant, and several sergeants, while two others were captured, according to the Khin-U Township People’s Administration Team.

The battle broke out at 7 am on 22 September and lasted until noon, involving about 90 junta troops, the Khin-U Township People’s Defence Force (PDF) said in a statement released on 23 September.

An official from the Khin-U Township People’s Administration Team said the military column had been moving from Khin-U toward No. 8 Shwebo Military Training School and Bokegone – a Pyu Saw Htee militia-controlled village – to transfer troops.

“The junta troops are being transferred. Khin-U Township is under martial law, and the junta cannot hold elections here,” the official told Mizzima.

The PDFs reported that weapons were seized in the battle with no casualties on the resistance side. Over 5.2 million kyats and a stockpile of arms were confiscated, including four MA-3 rifles, five MA-1s, one BA-63/G3 rifle, a carbine, one BA 100/60mm commando mortar, one MA-5 pistol, four Claymore mines, two anti-personnel landmines, four 60mm mortar rounds, and one RPG grenade.

The operation was carried out jointly by the Shwebo District Battalion 2 and Khin-U Township PDF Battalion 3, five township People’s Administration Teams, and the Khin-U Township People’s Liberation Army.

According to the township administration team, this was the second confrontation in recent days, following an earlier clash with junta forces on 18 September.