It is reported that the SAC column that was delivering provisions from Pakokku Township in Magway Region to Pauk Township killed two local people and about 6,000 local people have fled from the column.
The SAC column that sent food was about 200 forces, and from October 16 to 18, the local PDF joint forces carried out guerrilla attacks with energa bombs, small arms, and mines, according to Pauk Township Pa-Ka-Hpa (People’s Defence Force).
“The column has only been to Pauk for six days. From Ka-Pa-Sa 24 (Weapon Factory), the Pyu militiamen from Shwe Bon Thar Pyu Saw Htee Village and local Pyu Saw Htee militiamen have brought along the way as guides. Even though we have many landmines spread out, they know the area and can avoid them from four ten Taung (1 Taung Myanmar unit measurement = 18 inches) away,” said an official from Pauk Pa-Ka-Hpa.
He said that the column entered Wetpoke village at around 3:00 p.m. on October 16 and killed a local and at 4:15 p.m., the PDF joint forces opened fire on the column with small arms, killing one soldier, he said.
“The dead person is called (U) San Lin. He is over 60 years old, and a school worker who has joined CDM. There were also women in the Pyu militia from Shwe Bon Thar. He (U San Lin) was close to them, he would know them (Pyu militia) so they kept his mouth shut and stabbed him to death with scissors,” said a Wetpoke villager.
In addition, on October 18, about 100 soldiers, police, and Pyu Saw Htee troops came to Nyaung Yin village to bring their people and killed a local villager while returning from the village.
“The person who was killed was Hla Win Aung. He was not mentally ill. He was beaten by the column before. Now he was shot dead by an automatic firearm, and his body were returned,” he said.
During the three-day battle, at least four members of the SAC side were killed and many were injured. The joint revolutionary forces attacked the column with energa bombs, small arms, and mines, according to the Myaing Pa-Ka-Hpa.
“During the three-day battle, at least four people from the Army side were killed. Our side exchanged fire with energa bombs and small arms. The Army side also took the wounded on stretchers. On October 18, we fired at close range at the SAC troops that was having meals in Gepininn village. They could not even continue to have their meals and ran away. Then when the Army entered the Nyaung Yin village, five of them were injured in a landmine attack,” he said.
The SAC column that raided Pauk Township was stationed at Zeepyar Pyu village on October 18, around 6:00 p.m., and shouted and cursed with loudspeakers, an official from Myaing Pa-Ka-Hpa said.
According to reports, about 6,000 people from the villages of Wet Poke, Chaung Khwa, Then Taw Aint, Kwin Thaing, Gway Pone, Sathein, Gepininn, and Nyaung Yin have been forced to flee due to the fact that the SAC troops conducted area clearance in Pauk Township.