The Kalay People’s Defence Force reportedly detained three two civilians and regime Corp Min Zaw Oo, who was later shot dead when he tried to escape while they transported the men to their jungle camp.

Acting on a tip-off, the armed group entered the BMB KTV in Kalay town, which also functions as a massage parlour, and abducted the army leader as well as Tun Tun, the manager of the Myanmar Economic Bank for Kalay District, and Nyein Khant Zaw, a junior clerk at 1pm on 10 December.

Tun Tun Naing allegedly threatened the employees of his bank not to join the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), which was launched by striking health workers a few months after last year’s coup and has been joined by government employees across the country.

On the instructions of the Chief Office of People’s Police under the exiled National Unity Government, the Kalay Police Service, formed by officers who joined the CDM, have declared that they intend to charge the bank employees under Burma’s Counter-Terrorism Law.

The police officers, who served during the former government of Aung San Suu Kyi, claim that the men are being held under international human rights standards.

Three days after the abductions, the resistance group, the Chin National League (CNL), has issued a travel warning to avoid unnecessary travel from Tar Han to Let Pan Chaung after regime forces burned down three houses in Nan Chaung in northwestern Kalay Township.

About 150 soldiers shelled the village with heavy and light fire, although no clashes were reported in the area. After the residents fled, the army set up camp in Nan Chaung.