A villager said that more than 50 military council troops stormed San Thar village in the Htaukkyant tract in Kale township, Sagaing region at around 8 a.m. on November 19.

“Local resistance forces parked their cars in our village and opened fire on the soldiers,” said the villager, adding that he thought an informant passed on information to the junta forces.

This led to the junta using drones and then firing heavy artillery from nearby Nagapuk village, and then troops stormed San Thar village.

The Sagaing region has seen heavy fighting since the Myanmar military seized power in a coup in February. San Thar village is about seven kilometers from the town of Kale.

The junta forces fired heavy artillery at around 8:30 p.m. on November 18. One of the shells exploded near the church in San Thar village, damaging the windows of the church, according to locals.

More than 500 people fled from San Thar village due to the intrusion of soldiers, and it is not yet known what the soldiers are doing in the village.

"We want to get rid of these army dogs (soldiers) as soon as possible,” said a villager. “The local villagers are in a lot of trouble. Once these guys storm the village, there is nothing left to gain. Like thieves, they take everything they get.”

Tension between the military council troops and the People's Defense Forces in Kale township has increased and clashes are common. The Kale People's Defense Force warned on 19 November for people not to travel.

The PDF warned on their social media that vehicles should not travel on the Kale-Gangaw highway for a week.