By MPA CJ 008
According to local news sources, about 30 soldiers were killed and many were injured when the local defense forces attacked a military column of about 80 troops that left Kalay town with landmines two times at 5:30 in the morning on May 27th.
“The attack took place near Chaung Ma Gyi Creek bnear the climb of railway track hill and Thar Si village, before reaching the Paukkhon village, east of Zinn Kalin village,” an official of CNDF, Brigade (1) told MPA.
It is said that while the military column was entering the minefield which set up three-serial-mine for ready between Zinn Kalin village and Paukkhon village, they exploded the landmines at around 8:19 in the morning, killing 28 soldiers and injuring many.
“We can hear sounds. We also have to run away from the south side of the village. We knew that they are coming straight into the minefield. I heard that it was hit quite a bit,” a resident near the attack told MPA.
As many soldiers of the SAC were injured and killed, the column could not move forward, so they called for reinforcements from Kalay Town and carried the dead bodies and wounded back to Kalay Town. While the column was retreating back to Kalay Town, they entered a minefield that had been prepared near Thar Si Ywama Creek, so the PDF attacked the column for the second time at 12:00 noon, it said killing two soldiers and injuring some soldiers.
“Heavy weapons are firing from Kalay. Planes are flying in and scouting so they can carry their bodies,” a resident told MPA.
It was known that the attack was led by the Urban Guerrilla Project (UG) Kale Town, and the Kalay People’s Defense Joint Forces. The MPA has not yet confirmed the death of the SAC soldiers.