Junta troops planted landmines before abandoning a police station in Gangaw Township, Magway Region, according to a member of ABSDF Column-3.

On the morning of 4 November soldiers, police and Pyu Saw Htee militia members, abandoned the police station in South Khinyan Village.

After they left members of ABSDF Battalion 12 and people’s defence forces (PDFs) found landmines in the compound of the police station and started removing them.

“We do not know how many landmines they planted there, but we have already found 10 until now”, said Pyae Phyo Kyaw, an ABSDF Column-3 spokesperson.

After abandoning South Khinyan Village Police Station the junta forces moved through North Khinyan Village and went to the junta-occupied police station in Hantharwadi Village, also in Gangaw Township.

It is believed that they will continue on towards the neighbouring township of Kalay in Sagaing Region.

“We have received information that they will move on to the junta’s regional command in Kalay township,” said Pyae Phyo Kyaw.

The day before the junta forces abandoned South Khinyan Village Police Station, on the morning of 3 November, defence forces had attacked and occupied the nearby Minywa Police Station killing six junta soldiers and arresting a further 11 in the process.