A total of four junta troops - three junta soldiers and one pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia member - were killed in a raid on Myay Ni Gone Monastery, Saw Bwar (6) Ward, Tamu Township, Sagaing Region, where the junta troops were stationed on the afternoon of April 13, said a local defense force.

At 2 p.m. on that day, PDF-Tamu battalion (4), Burmese Students Organization (BSO), All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), and other local people's defense forces jointly attacked the junta forces in a 45-minute battle during which a member of the BSO suffered a minor injury.

“Our joint defense forces attacked 40-strength regime troops,” an officer from the People's Defense Force (TAMU) PDF - Tamu Battalion 4 told Mizzima.

PDF-Tamu battalion (3), Fighter Police CDM (Tamu), and People’s Soldier CDM reportedly assisted the local defense forces to prevent the arrival of junta reinforcements during the battle.

Sagaing Region has been the scene of fierce fighting over the last year with many villages burnt down by the Military Council forces.

In attacks this week, junta soldiers reportedly torched civilian houses in Kansu village and Nyaung GokeTo village in Yin Mar Bin Township, Sagaing Region on 12 April at 10:30 a.m.

According to a local resident, 40 houses in Kansu village and seven houses in Nyaung Goke To Tawpyin village were burnt to the ground.

During the Thingyan Water Festival period, the People's Defense Forces are urging people to remain vigilant and stay indoors as much as possible, as fighting could erupt at any time.