Four police officers, including a sub-inspector were killed and three Uzi guns were seized by defence forces when they attacked a patrol vehicle in Sagaing Region’s Salingyi Township on 18 December.

According to one of the groups involved in the attack, the Chindwin Galone Yazar Guerrilla Defence Force, the defence forces opened fire on a police patrol vehicle carrying five police officers at about 8:50 a.m. on 18 December. The police officers and defence forces then exchanged fire for about 10 minutes.

A civilian was shot dead by police officers in the exchange of fire, according to the Chindwin Galone Yazar Guerrilla Defence Force.

An official from the organisation said: “We kept track of when the policemen were patrolling and waited for an opportunity to attack. On 18 December, they [the policemen] were patrolling the Salingyi Township region area, and we were aware that they were taking this route. As a result, we waited before firing on them.”

He added that Sub-inspector, Thant Zin Win (ID No. 198247) and three other police men were killed, another policeman escaped and three Uzi guns were seized.

The defence forces carrying out the attack were Chindwin Galone Yazar Guerrilla Defense Force, Triple Two Task Force, Salingyi People's Defense Force, Alpha Special Force, Yinmarbin Local Defense Force, and Monywa Trust of Force.