The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) says it seized Myanmar junta’s Infantry Battalion 141 headquarters controlling the Irrawaddy River route to the Kachin State capital, Myitkyina, on Monday after months of attacks.
The KIA and allied Kachin People’s Defense Force occupied Sinbo on the west bank of the Irrawaddy in Myitkyina Township on February 10 after occupying a police station in the town.
Since then the anti-regime groups have been attempting to seize the battalion headquarters to the west of the town.
“It is an important base restricting the route between the KIA headquarters and the KIA Brigade 8. It also controls the Myitkyina-Bhamo river route,” Colonel Naw Bu, the KIA’s spokesman, told The Irrawaddy on Monday.