Residents reported that a civilian who was herding sheep in the forest east of Kan Gyi Kone village in Chaung-U township, Sagaing region, was apprehended and killed by a combined force of Military Council troops and Pyu Saw Htee militia.
On September 14, at 2:00 p.m. in Kan Gyi Kone village, approximately 20 Military Council troops and Pyu Saw Htee militia members apprehended and killed a civilian who was herding sheep in the forest to the east of the village, as reported by a resident.
"The Military Council troops apprehended a herd of sheep along with their shepherd. Fortunately, the other shepherds managed to escape. Those who rear sheep and cattle think that the Military Council troops are not a threat to their livelihoods," he explained.
The shepherd who was killed was 40-year-old Ko Zaw Htay from Yar Gyi Taw village. He leaves behind a wife and a 15-year-old daughter.
The Military Council's propaganda Telegram channels stated that they had recovered weapons and the body of a PDF member during their security operations near Kan Gyi Kone village.
Another resident of Kan Gyi Kone mentioned that the village is relied upon by the Military Council troops, who often conduct raids on surrounding villages.
"Not long after the coup, that village transformed into a stronghold for the Pyu Saw Htee militia. It's not incorrect to label it as Pyu Saw Htee village, a place relied upon by the Military Council. This village's strategic position along the riverbank makes it central to their operations," the resident stated.
As a result, the residents of Kan Gyi Kone village and nearby Wa Yar, Yar Gyi Taw, Shwe Kyin, and Shwe Hlay villages are fleeing to seek safety, according to the residents.
Kan Gyi Kone Pyu Saw Htee village, situated on the banks of the Chindwin River, is a significant community approximately 8 miles southeast of Chaung-U Township, according to local residents.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), nearly 800,000 people had fled to seek safety in the Sagaing region since the coup, up to August of this year.