On 2023 April 10, at about 5:30 in the morning, the Chin National Defense Force (CNDF) attacked the Military Junta Camp in Vaar Village, Falam Township, Chin State, which is about 12 miles away from Falam Town, and captured the Camp after exchanging fire for about an hour and a half. In that attack, 11 of the 25 SAC soldiers at the Military Junta Camp were killed in the battle, and 14 were captured as prisoners by the CNDF. Three SAC soldiers, including a captain died of injuries although the CNDF medics attempted to save their lives by giving medical treatments. A CNDF soldier was killed in the battle. The Vaar camp of the Military Junta is underLight Infantry Battalion (LIB-268) based in Falam Town.

According to locals, about 50 SAC soldiers marched from Falam Town to reinforce the Vaar camp at around 7:00 am. Then, at around 9:10 am, a jet fighter dropped 6 bombs between Vaar village and Congheng village. As a result of this incident, the 49-year-old village headman Pu Hram Hu from Vaar village was hit by a bullet and died. All residents of Vaar village had to flee to safety.

Then, at around 11:00 a.m., although there was no firing or battle near Webula town, the SAC fighter jets bombarded Webulaa town twice. Eight innocent people, including the headmaster of Basic Hight School who participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), were killed in this bomb attack. In addition, a local woman was taken to a hospital operated by the Chin National Organization (CNO) Health department, but she died due to severe injuries. Not only that, 3 residential houses were destroyed and 5 were burnt to ashes. Many innocent civilians were injured. Webula town is about 15 miles away from Vaar village and is located on the Kalay- Natchaung- Falam road.

The SAC’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB-268) is stationed at the top of Mount Vankau north of Falam town. Locals believe that the SAC troops were targeting places where schools are run by the CNO and where CNDF forces could be present.

At around 4:00 pm 6 bombs were dropped on Ramthlo village, Falam township by the SAC fighter planes. Of the six bombs, 4 exploded on top of Zinghmuh Mountain at the top of Ramthlo village, and 2 exploded inside of Ramthlo village. Ramthlo village is the village where 19 houses were set on fire by the Military Junta at 1 o’clock in the afternoon on April 6th. The villagers were able to escape to a safe area, and there were no casualties.

“The Institute of Chin Affairs strongly condemns the killing of 11 innocent civilians by the SAC’s air strkes, the dropping of 14 bombs at 3 places in a day and firing heavy weapons at residential areas of innocent Chin people”, said Salai Van Sui San, Deputy Director of the ICA.

All photo Credit.

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