5 Burmese Army soldiers killed in KIA attack

KIA'S BATTALION 6 SOLDIERS.

Five Burmese Army soldiers including a captain were killed following an attack by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) against the Burmese army on a road near the jade mining town of Hpakant in Burma’s northern Kachin State on Friday. Eyewitnesses reported that five soldiers were also injured during the guerrilla strike.

A KIA official from the Awnglawt based 2nd Brigade said that all the dead and injured were from the Namma-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 386 under the Mogaung-based Military Operation Command-3.

The convoy of trucks was attacked near the Dai Kri area between Ma-U Pyin and Nam Ya at approximately 7:30 AM local time. The attack was jointly carried out by troops from the KIA’s 6th Battalion and fighters from the People’s Army under the group’s 2nd Brigade, the KIA official said. The People’s Army is separate from the KIA and instead led by civilian command under the KIO’s Department of General Administration.

Two trucks were damaged in the attack while another truck escaped, witnesses told the Kachin News Group (KNG).

KNG has also learned that as a result of the attack the KIA seized four MA-1 guns with over 300 bullets, 1 MA-2 gun, one pistol and one Bazooka with one round.

This article was compiled by our correspondent in Hpakant Township.