Residents told Radio Free Asia on Wednesday that a three-day junta raid in northern Myanmar resulted in one man dead and 100 homes destroyed.
The joint military forces attacked a village in Kachin state’s Hpakant township on Sunday.
The rebel Kachin Independence Army and the local resistance group, the Kachin People’s Defense Force, have been targeting villages as they clash with junta forces vying for control of the region’s gem mines.
Troops near Tar Ma Hkan village set fire to over 100 homes and shops, according to residents. One man in his 40s was shot during the raid.
A villager explained that the junta column was unable to retreat or advance due to interception by the rebel groups, leading to the burning of the village and destruction of several establishments.
Residents stated that more than 4,000 people reside in Tar Ma Hkan village, with most involved in the jade industry. They reported that the junta camp near the village was taken over by the Kachin Independence Army and its allies.
RFA reached out to military spokespersons and information officers for more details on the incident but did not receive a response.
Hpakant township was previously attacked on Jan. 9, with junta troops using villagers as shields following clashes with People’s Defense Forces.
Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.
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