Pegyi Khin Village in Natogyi Township, Mandalay Region was set on fire by junta soldiers and five houses were burnt to ashes, according to a member of the Natogyi People's Defense Force.

The military council troops entered Pegyi Khin village which has more than 300 houses on 6 March. Villagers were beaten and houses were set on fire.

“They were drunk. They shouted and fired guns looking for Peoples’ Defence Force (PDF) members. Some villagers were beaten. Even some brick houses were burnt down. Some did not have a chance to take anything”, said a member of the Natogyi People's Defense Force.

It is possible that they burnt down the village because their convoy was set on fire by the Natogyi People's Defense Forces on 6 March or it may also have been a way to force PDF soldiers to come out into the open, he commented.

Junta troops have been stationed in Magyigone Village in Natogyi Township since 5 March.