There was shooting between junta troops and the Katha People's Defence Force (PDF) as population census data was being collected in Pyitharyar Village, in Katha Township, northern Sagaing Region.
On 6 October, junta troops providing security for the junta-organised population census enumeration in Pyitharyar and surrounding villages had a shootout with Katha PDF that lasted approximately one hour near the Pyitharyar Bridge, between Katha Town and the junta's Infantry Battalion (IB) 309 base.
A Katha Township resident said: "Yesterday, census enumerators arrived in Pyitharyar Village, accompanied by junta troops for security. As the junta troops were positioned near Pyitharyar Bridge, a gunfight erupted with PDF fighters approaching from the opposite direction. The encounter was not a large-scale battle; after a brief exchange of gunfire between several PDF members and the junta troops, the situation settled down again.”
Once the situation had calmed down the census enumeration continued, according to the resident.
The junta started collecting census data in Katha Township on 5 October. In downtown Katha Town census enumeration has mainly been carried out in Wards 4 and 8.
So far, in Katha Township, the junta has only tried to collect census data in Katha Town and villages near to Katha Town. It has not yet tried to collect census data from the more outlying villages.
Katha Town is the administrative centre of Katha district which encompasses the townships of Katha, Indaw, Tigyaing, and Banmauk. Of those, so far, the junta has only attempted to carry out census enumeration in Katha Township.
The junta announced that it is conducting the census with 1,026 enumerators across 27 townships in the Sagaing Region as part of the 2024 nationwide population and housing census enumeration that is slated to take place from 1 to 15 October 2024.
The junta say that the census is needed to come up with voter lists for the election it has planned for 2025 which revolutionary groups say is a sham to try and legitimise the junta’s rule amongst the international community. The revolutionary groups have also called on people to not take part in the census.
