The soldiers entered the Church of Assembly of God in Ward No. 1 in Muk Chyik Village, six miles from Waingmaw Town, and detained Pastor Yelawng Lum Hkawng. Hpalawng Lum Hkawng, who was in the church compound, was shot in the leg, according to eyewitnesses.

“The entire church, including the interior stage and the offering box, were hit and destroyed by Burmese soldiers. No covered wooden planks remained in the front of the building,” an eyewitness told Kachin News Group.

Four villagers who were suspected of aiding the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) were also arrested by Burmese soldiers, said villagers.

“The detainees Lahawng Hkawng Hawng and Shayu Lum Hawng were severely tortured by Burmese soldiers after their hands, legs, and necks were tied with ropes,” an eyewitness recounted.

The pastor and three other villagers were taken to the nearby military base located near Washawng Dam. However, Maung Maung, the owner of a rice-grinding machine, was taken to Infantry Battalion No. 58 based in Waingmaw Town, eyewitnesses said.

During the army operation in Ward No. 1 of the village, Burmese soldiers burnt down the house of Jum Hpawk’s family. The soldiers also looted money from the tithe and micro credit boxes of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Metta Development Foundation, two NGOs, villagers said.

The acts by the Burmese soldiers followed clashes with the KIA in areas near the villages from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. local time. The government troops were from the Magwe-based Light Infantry Division No. 88, added villagers.



The clashes broke out between the two sides when over 100 Burmese troops headed for Washawng from Waingmaw at 8 a.m., said eyewitnesses.

At least seven Burmese Army soldiers were killed in the two-hour skirmish, confirmed KIA officers in Waingmaw.



The church’s pastor was finally freed in the evening after being interrogated by Burmese Army soldiers, said sources close to the pastor.