NAYPYITAW, 17 November 2021, (TON): According to residents “three youths were found dead in Sagaing Region’s Kyunhla Township last week following the occupation of a local village by regime forces.”

The bodies of the youths were discovered last Tuesday near the village of Aye Chan Thar, where some 200 troops had been stationed since November 6. Village residents said they were forced to stay in the local monastery until the soldiers left.

One of the bodies was identified as that of Soe Lin Aung, a 21-year-old member of a local armed resistance group. His body, which had two bullet wounds in the left side of his chest, was discovered in Pyaung Thwe, a stream about 1km from Aye Chan Thar.

The other two victims were found closer to the village, according to a local man who said that their names were Naing Maw and Than Soe.

The man said “the ones who found him said that Than Soe’s hands were tied. He was going to meet his wife and child in the monastery when he ran into a military patrol.”

Local sources told media The occupation began after regime forces clashed with the Kyunhla People’s Defence Force (PDF) near Pyaung Thwe, Aye Chan Thar and Inhla on the morning of November 6.”

The troops that took over Aye Chan Thar seized the phones of residents and destroyed their SIM cards, according to a woman who was in the village at the time.

The soldiers retreated in military helicopters three days later, the woman said.