Six men who were engaged in gold mining activities were killed by Military Council troops in Pinlebu Township, Sagaing Region, as stated by an official from the Pinlebu Township People's Administration Team.
An official from the Pinlebu Township People's Administration Team said that on August 14, around 4:00 p.m., the Military Council troops that came out of Pinlebu Township were conducting military operations towards the gold mine in Shwe Nyaung Pin, killing 6 men who were digging for gold.
"Troops from the Military Council emerged from the town yesterday and fatally shot six individuals at the local gold mine in Shwe Nyaung Pin. It's unclear whether the victims were local residents or individuals who had come to work from other places," he reported.
Furthermore, the Pinlebu Township People's Administration Team reported that a man operating a backhoe at the Shwe Nyaung Pin gold mine was captured as a hostage by the same military column when it departed from the area.
The official confirmed that reports of six men being killed and one person being abducted were verified by accounts from residents in the Shwe Nyaung Pin area.
An official from the Pinlebu Township People's Administration Team stated that the Military Council column originated from Pinlebu Township, although the specific battalion involved has yet to be confirmed.
"The military column exited the town, engaged in acts of terrorism, and subsequently returned to the town. The battalions have been changing periodically. Initially, we were aware that it involved Light Infantry Battalion 376 and 362. Presently, it's uncertain whether the military column has been changed or not," he said.
Furthermore, the column vanished at the Zakat Pin intersection, which serves as a shortcut between Mule village and Hethat village. In response, the defense forces cautioned the local residents to remain attentive to updates about the column's movements and to exercise caution.
The Shwe Nyaung Pin area, where six men were killed while engaging in gold mining, is a place where local people dig for gold and conduct business. It is situated on the east side of the Mu River along the Kawlin-Pinlebu road, at a distance of about 6 miles from Pinlebu Township.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reported on August 10 that over 3,900 democracy activists and civilians opposing the coup have lost their lives across Myanmar since the coup occurred.
