CNI News

28 October 2025

Local residents say that the KIA-PDF-Kadu forces, which have seized control of Banmauk Township in Upper Sagaing Region, were setting fire to the area near the police station and Hlazingon Ward on the afternoon of October 26, 2025.

A video file documented by a drone, showing the fire damage, was also found.

A Banmauk local said: "They are burning the area of the Banmauk Police Station and Hlazingon Ward, starting around 12 noon. The KIA-PDF-Kadu forces are doing the burning. The military (Tatmadaw) and SNA forces are no longer there; they are just near Banmauk town. The KIA-PDF have been occupying the town since September 20. The SNA is also launching an offensive to retake the town. The KIA-PDF troops were instructed to burn the town if they had to retreat. They told the locals that if they had to withdraw, they would burn everything and frame it as damage caused by the SNA attack."

Currently, the Shan Nationalities Army (SNA) and the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) are preparing militarily to retake Banmauk town and are reportedly positioned about a mile away, according to local residents.

A combined force of no less than 18 revolutionary groups, including the KIA-PDF-Kadu forces, launched an offensive on Banmauk town on September 15 and captured and controlled it on September 20.

Banmauk town was previously controlled by the SNA forces.

Subsequently, fighting has been occurring between the KIA-PDF-Kadu forces and the SNA.