Ethnic armed organisations have detained civilians accused of dealing in illegal drugs, with one of the incidents escalating into a shootout in Mongmit Township, northern Shan State.

According to a man from the township who spoke to SHAN on condition of anonymity, a man accused of being a drug dealer in Wan Fai was shot dead after he opened fire on Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) soldiers after they abducted four people and tried to seize him on the afternoon of 27 July.

In the morning, Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) soldiers had detained four people from Wan Bon Kan on suspicion of dealing drugs. The next day, the Ta’ang group grabbed six people from Wan Bon Kan and Wan Ohn.

”After the TNLA left, several SSPP soldiers came to the village,” the source said.

Locals fear that the armed groups will accuse more villagers of drug trafficking and that there will be clashes between the different groups, some of which have been fighting since the beginning of the month, forcing people in the township to flee their homes.