A former junta conscript who became a resistance fighter was killed in clashes near Pandetinn Village in Tanintharyi Region’s Launglon Township.

A member of the Waihin squad under Daw Na Company 6 of the People’s Defence Force (PDF) was killed after being shot in the head during intense fighting near Pandetinn Village on July 29, according to his squad.

The fallen fighter was a 20-year-old former junta conscript who deserted his battalion to join the resistance. Known as Comrade Sappya (Soap) in the Waihin squad, he had previously been deployed to Kanpauk Village in Yebyu Township, Tanintharyi Region, as part of the junta’s Infantry Battalion 273 before defecting to the resistance.

“He was trying to rescue his teammates who were pinned down by heavy gunfire when he got shot. Everyone he helped made it out safely, but a bullet went through his helmet, and that’s what killed him,” said the commander of the Daw Na Company 6.

On July 29, a junta column advanced toward Pandetinn Village and engaged in intense fighting for around 10 hours with resistance forces, including the Duraku Column of the Dawei National Liberation Army (DNLA) and the PDF.

According to the commander of Daw Na Company 6, Comrade Soap defected to the resistance in November 2024, along with two other conscripts.

He had served with the PDF for about nine months when he was killed. This was the first time the Waihin squad had suffered a fatality.

Comrade Soap’s body was laid to rest by fellow resistance fighters on July 31.

The Duraka Column claimed that the junta column also suffered around 30 casualties during the fierce fighting near Pandetinn Village.