One woman was killed and another injured by junta army gunfire in Sagaing Region’s Tigyaing Township, at about 4:00 p.m. on 19 October.

The killings were apparently in retaliation for an attack on junta troops earlier that day by people’s defence forces (PDFs).

At about 3:00 p.m. on 19 October, PDF forces attacked 10 motorcycles being ridden by junta soldiers and police officers as they rode out of Tigyaing Township. There was a 30-minute exchange of fire in which eight soldiers and a policeman were killed and two policemen were captured by the PDFs.

Half an hour after the fighting, at around 4:00 p.m., two women who ventured out into the street in Tigyaing Township’s No. (1) Sanpya Ward were fired on by junta soldiers, according to a local resident.

They said: "The soldiers of the Military Council concealed themselves by the roadside and opened fire on the two women.”

A member of Tigyaing Township PDF said: "The two women ventured out after the battle, and the Military Council fired upon two women, even though they were well aware that both of them were civilians.”

The woman who was killed was 23 years old and the injured one was 18 years old. The injured woman is being treated in hospital.

Though local residents and revolutionary forces claim the women were shot by junta forces, Mizzima has not yet been able to independently confirm this.

The situation in Tigyaing Township is currently volatile because significant numbers of junta forces have been deployed in the area. Around 30 military units arrived at Pitaukhla Port in Tigyaing Township on 23 October, according to local revolutionary forces.