Battles continue to rage between KIA’s 9th Battalion troops and Burmese Army troops under 99th Light Infantry Division at Hu Hpyet area in Kutkai Township, northern Shan State. The two sides fought at Ding Gaw Bum beginning 9 am on Monday.
KIA frontline sources said the two sides engaged in continuous daily battles for over a week in Kutkai Township after 8 ethnic armed groups signed a Nationwide Ceasefire Accord with Burmese Government in Naypyidaw on Oct 15.
On Oct 24, the two sides engaged in a battle at Man Bang Bum at around 10 am. Burmese Army troops razed a KIA’s 9th Battalion frontline post on the same day. Another battle took place at Wan Jak Kawng near Maw Han Hka on Oct 23 at 10:10 am.
A Kutkai resident said he could hear the sound of gun fire from No. 5 and 6 quarters almost every night at around 11 pm. “Burmese Army troops surrounded Kutkai city for days now. They camped at every corner of the city,” he said. Another resident said local civilians are worried as Burmese Army fired artillery shells from No. 5 quarter.
In western Kachin State, KIA’s 2nd Battalion troops battled a combined force of Burmese Army troops from 86th and 236th Light Infantry Battalions near KIA’s Dabyi Post on Oct 23 at around 4:30 pm.
A Hpakant source said Burmese Army used civilians’ 6 wheeler trucks to transport firearms and ammunition. About 30 trucks have been spotted entering Hpakant Nam Tein area.
