A civilian resistance group ambushed Burma Army (BA) soldiers providing security for a riverboat carrying food and military equipment in Katha Township, Sagaing Region.

According to an officer from the local People’s Defense Force (PDF), they attacked the regime twice with landmines on Thursday. He said they attacked 50 ground troops on the riverbank near Wel Gyi in the morning before the vessel departed from Motar Lay, and 70 BA next to Thanpuyar Kon later in the afternoon.

An anonymous local source close to the PDF told KNG that Lt Thar Lica led both attacks. Three regime fighters were killed in the morning and five in the afternoon.

The BA column arrested villagers from Tok Gyi and released them when arriving at Wel Gyi, where they arrested more people.

BA soldiers who provide security for military river boats on the Irrawaddy River have been attacked several times this month by the PDF and Kachin Independence Army.