By Ko Paing / MPA

Local People’s Defense Forces carried out an attack on a junta’s security checkpoint in front of Sagaing University near Pe Ka Toe Village, followed by an landmine attack on a military column dispatched as reinforcements, reportedly resulting in 20 fatalities and numerous injuries. 

The Sagaing PDF reported on Tuesday that defense force members attacked the junta’s checkpoints along the Monywa-Mandalay road near the university in Pe Ka Toe Village, Sagaing Township around 5:00 AM on Monday. 

“At around 5 AM, we launched a close-range attack from the back gate of the university, firing for about 15 minutes. As we were retreating, our interception team planted three mines for a convoy, bringing reinforcements from the Light Infantry Division-33. The explosion resulted in damaging two vehicles. A Pyu Saw Htee militia member, Oshin, from Aung Chan Thar village was crushed to death in one of the vehicles, and other soldiers were also injured or killed,” a Sagaing PDF official told MPA.

The PDF forces also set up a mine point at the university exit gate, where departing soldiers encountered an explosion, resulting in more casualties.

“The deceased and injured were later transported to Sagaing and Mandalay. The two damaged vehicles were towed back to Sagaing along with 15 trucks carrying copper, briefly closing the road in the evening,” the official added.

The Sagaing PDF and the Eagle Brotherhood Guerrilla Force jointly launched this mission with no casualties reported on the PDF side. 

MPA could not independently verify the number of soldier casualties or injuries.