A drone strike by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Kachin Region People’s Defence Force (KPDF) killed 10 police officers and injured 6 others in a village police camp in Hpakant Township, Kachin State.
According to the KPDF spokesperson for the township, which is fighting alongside the KIA in Kachin State, the attack on June 26 at 1:30 pm killed a police lieutenant colonel and several high-ranking police officers at the camp in Seng Tawng (also called Seik Muu ). At least 20 police were deployed on the grounds.
A man from Hpakant town heard there was intense fighting in the area. Burma army soldiers from Yu Mar and Mashi Kahtawng were deployed to assist fellow soldiers in Seng Tawng. He said that the army forced some of the volunteer funeral teams to collect the police officers’ bodies and transport the injured to the hospital, where some of them died.
The regime has recently stepped up patrols around Seik Muu, where fighting is frequently happening, the KPDF spokesperson said. He cautioned locals to take care as clashes can break out anywhere and at any time.
Since the KIA and KPDF fought with soldiers under the Military Council outside Seng Tawng on June 25, the situation has been tense with the regime shelling the area every day. A shell recently killed a civilian and injured nine people in the village.
The deceased police officers include Lt-Col Thura Aung, Capt Khaing Soe Han, Lt Tun Khaing Soe, Sgt Thein Soe, Sgt Win Myint, LCpl Zaw Moe, and regular police officers are Hein Min Htet, Phyo Htet Aung, Zaw Win Kyaw, and Tun Tun Lin.
