NAYPYITAW, 01 October 2021, (TON): The anti-junta Kani People’s Defence Force (KPDF) launched three attacks on two military vessels carrying reinforcements, ammunition and food up the Chindwin River in Sagaing Region’s Kani Township, according to the group.

According to a KPDF information officer “the targeted boats were transporting around 200 soldiers from Ahlone port in Monywa, more than 30 miles south of Kani.”

He speculated that the junta troops on board were reinforcements for the military units fighting PDFs in Mingin, Kalay and across Chin State.

He said “we found that the vessel was also carrying weapons and ammunition. Three clashes took place between us and the two vessels. We, the PDF, did what needed to be done.”

According to the spokesperson “the clashes each lasted between 30 minutes and one hour and the attacks were carried out from three different locations on both the eastern and western banks of the Chindwin. Five KPDF members were injured.”

The KPDF information officer said “we didn’t use muskets. We used heavy weapons that we crafted ourselves. To be honest, it’s really hard for us to protect the area when we have to use makeshift weapons like this.”

According to local sources “some 1,500 locals from the 10 villages along the river fled their homes when the fighting broke out.”

Kani locals told Myanmar Now that the two boats continued moving along the river despite the attacks.

The number of casualties on the military’s side was not known.