Military beefs up security after KNLA attack on police post in Mon State’s Kyaikto Twsp

By DMG 14 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
14 June 2022, Kyaikto, Mon State 

Myanmar’s military regime has tightened security and conducted interrogations of residents in Mon State’s Kyaikto Township since Monday, following an attack on a police outpost last week, according to locals. 

A coalition headed by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) launched attacks on the police outpost in Kinmonchaung village, Kyaikto Township, at about 9 p.m. on June 10, a villager said. 

“I heard the sound of a gunfight at night. The KNLA reportedly attacked the police outpost and both sides exchanged fire with small arms and light weapons,” the villager added. 

The KNLA is the armed wing of the Karen National Union (UNU), and has frequently clashed with junta troops in the months since the Myanmar military seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021. 

Authorities have not yet commented on the attack and locals say they do not know the details of the incident, but an increased security presence was noted starting Monday. 

“Junta troops have beefed up security at bridges and junctions in Kyaikto Township since yesterday,” said a resident of Kyaikto. 

More than 100 junta soldiers from Kyaikto-based Light Infantry Division No. 44 were deployed along the Kyaikto-Kinmonchaung-Kyaikhtiyo road and at nearby villages, according to locals. 

Two days after the attack on the police outpost, three junta soldiers were reportedly killed and a local driver was injured when a combined force of KNLA and other anti-regime fighters attacked a security checkpoint near Moppalin Junction in Theinzayet town, Mon State, on June 12.