Myanmar junta troops detained at least 40 residents after storming Moakkadee village in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region, early on 3 November, according to local sources.

A representative from the Wetlet Information Network told Mizzima that a column of about 50 troops from Ywar Thar Gyi, a Pyu Saw Htee militia village in western Wetlet, raided Moakkadee village around 6 am.

“They left Ywar Thar Gyi during the night and suddenly entered Moakkadee village early this morning, leaving residents no time to escape, so they were arrested,” the official said, adding that the identities of those detained had not yet been verified.

A local People’s Defence Force (PDF) official confirmed that about 40 civilians had been taken, saying the arrests occurred alongside the movement of the junta column.

After the detentions, the troops reportedly withdrew to Hle U Gyi Kone village by the afternoon, according to the Wetlet Information Network.

Ywar Thar Gyi, a pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia village, has been under siege by local resistance groups since October. The junta has carried out air reinforcement operations in the area, according to resistance sources.

On 1 November, resistance fighters said they opened fire on a junta Mi-17 helicopter attempting to reinforce Ywar Thar Gyi village.

“Two Mi-17 helicopters tried to land twice, and during the second attempt, we hit one of them. The other couldn’t land and retreated,” a revolutionary fighter said.

Clashes have continued as resistance forces jointly attack Ywar Thar Gyi, while junta troops attempt to advance through surrounding areas, local sources said.