A female civilian was shot in the head by the Burma Army (BA) during a fierce battle with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Tanai Township, Kachin State.

Ja Ring, 40, from Tarung, was injured after BA and KIA started fighting in her village between Tanai and Shin Bway Yang towns on 10 September.

A villager said the military shot at her as she tried to flee the fighting in a car. ''After trying to get her to stop, they shot at her vehicle... She wasn't killed, but I heard there was a lot of blood from her head injury,'' he said.

''All the villagers fled the fighting.''

The man told KNG that both sides engaged in a gun battle in Tarung that lasted until 2pm, while the BA shelled it with artillery.

By 6pm, BA had sent new reinforcements to the village.

According to villagers, a BA unit was permanently stationed there, but after the coup eight months ago, it was sent to support troops in Tanai town. On 8 September, the soldiers returned, leading to fighting with the KIA.