Ten villagers were abducted by Myanmar junta troops to use as guides and killed in between Lwan Hlaw and Ki Lone villages, Matupi Township, Chin State.

"According to reliable sources on the ground, the arrested villagers have been killed," said a Matupi resident.

Three bodies of the 10 detainees have been found and there was also ample evidence that the others were killed but the rest of the bodies have not been found as of January 9 due to the clashes.

About 200 troops from the 140th Battalion of the Military Council based in Matupi started marching along the Matupi-Hakha road on January 5 and in the early morning of January 6, nine villagers fleeing from the clashes were arrested and abducted as guides.

"Thirteen-year-old La Nang was included among those killed. The junta terrorist soldiers don’t use the highway road anymore now and they try to use the forest roads. They arrested children found in the villages along with the forest roads. The children were afraid and they had to act as guides to show the forest roads. Finally, all the children and adults were killed,” said a source on the ground.

Those who believed to have been killed were Salai Tui Dim, Salai Van Htoo, Salai Steven, Salai La Ring, Salai La Nang, Salai Tin San, Salai Phupa Sali, Salai Lian Ngai, Salai Ze Caet Aung and Salai Thak Lung.

Salai Thudin, one of the victims, was the editor of a local news outlet, Khao Nu Thong.

Fighting continued along the Matupi-Hakha road up until yesterday. Villagers from Kihlone, Kase Bwayhtiyar villages have reportedly fled.

At present, Nga Lai and Long Hlaw villages are under the control of the Chin Defense Forces, and the Chin Army troops have cordoned off the Military Council's Htalbway military base.

About 90 military vehicles have left Min Tat to reinforce the junta soldiers in Matupi Township, according to local sources.