Daily Artillery Fire Reported in Nhkram Gidon and Lai Hpawng Outposts

Kachinland News | October 19, 2016

KIA sources said Burmese army troops fired KIA outposts almost daily with artillery and mortar fires. A civilian source who is in the area confirmed that he can continuously hear the sound of mortars and artillery fires.

Burmese army fired 5 rounds of 81 mm on Gidon post and 4 artillery rounds on Mara Hting Hput Bum on Oct 17 between 4 pm and 6 pm. On the same day, several artillery rounds were fired on KIA’s Mai Saw post from Nhkram. KIA troops had reportedly returned artillery fire on advancing Burmese army troops who are encroaching on KIA’s 252nd Mobile Battalion territory by clearing the forests and building roads towards KIA positions.

On Oct 16, Burmese army’s Nhkram-based troops fired 3 artillery rounds on KIA 3rd Battalion’s Lai Hpawng post between 2 am to 6 am.

Similarly, several mortar rounds were fired on KIA 252nd Mobile Battalion’s Gidon post on Oct 16 between 10 am and 6 pm.

Myanmar Air Force’s fighter jets were seen flying over Gidon post and Lai Hpawng post on Oct 17 and 18 but did not fire rockets and missiles on KIA positions, said a frontline source. He said it was probably because of cloud coverage over the KIA outposts.

In northern Shan State, KIA’s 36th Battalion engaged in a battle against Burmese army troops reportedly from 99th Light Infantry Division at Lagat Hkyet, located between Man Yang village and Nawng Jang village, in Muse Township on Oct 16 at 1:30 pm, and again in the evening at Hpai Kawng Hkalen village at 6:30 pm.

KIA’s 36th Battalion troops again fought Burmese army troops at a location between Bang Satai village and Man Yang village on Oct 18 at 10:20 am.

Meanwhile, several local sources reported Burmese army  reinforcing its bases in southeastern Kachin State.

A local source who lives along Mandalay-Myitkyina railroad said he has seen several Burmese soldiers in at least three coaches in Mandalar-Myitsone express train on Oct 17. The source said the soldiers wore uniform with archery bow patches on their shoulder sleeves.