Hseng Leng/SHAN — The junta’s armed forces have sealed off all the entrances to a town in Kalaw Township following fighting with the Indaw People’s Defence Force (IPDF) in nearby Yawnghwe (Nyaung Shwe) Township.

“They have set up checkpoints at the entrance to Aungban and are carefully checking travellers coming from Yawnghwe and Taunggyi, as well as anyone entering the town,” a local on condition of anonymity told SHAN. “We’re worried that there might be clashes in the villages around Aungban.”

Last week, fighting broke out between the IPDF and the military between Phayar Ni and Than Htawng on the west side of Inle Lake, with deaths on both sides.

The IPDF commander of Battalion 1009 and two other soldiers were reportedly killed and one soldier was captured alive when the groups clashed between Phayar Ni and Than Tawng villages in Taunggyi District on 3 January, according to an anonymous source close to the group.

In the evening of the next day, after the resistance group had retreated, the military and Pyusawhtee forces attacked them again in Lyn King village. This time they killed another soldier and captured two more resistance fighters and the body of a fallen fighter.

It is still unclear how many regime soldiers were killed in battle.

This is the first time this year that the IPDF and the military have fought around Inle. The Pa-O National Organisation/Pa-O National Army, which has been transformed into a People’s Militia Force, has been patrolling southern Shan State with the regime’s forces.