KKO (Splinter) Kyaw Thet group and PDF terrorists with excessive strengths had tried to enter Kawkareik via Kaunghmu, Yankok and Kyaungshagon villages, north of Kawkareik through Kawkareik-Thingan Nyinaung old road with attempts to attack Kawkareik and local military headquarters since early April. So, they engaged with local security forces 13 times.
Those terrorists gathered reinforcements and committed terror acts such as setting fire to houses and robbing people’s property with continuous attacks on the northern part of Kawkareik, firing at Kawkareik via eastern villages with the use of heavy weapons and secretly entered outskirt wards of the town.
Hence, Tatmadaw added its reforcements and systematically performed the Counter-Terrorism Operation with the use of heavy weapon supporting fire to terrorists around Kawkareik from 19 April. In this regard, both sides engaged each other nine times. On 22 April, Tatmadaw recontrolled the region whereas terrorists withdrew to Kaunghmu Village, north of Kawkareik, in disarray. After the fighting, some dead bodies of terrorists, arms, ammunition and related equipmetn were seized and some officers and other ranks of Tatmadaw were wounded.
Military columns of Tatmadaw are in a hot pursuit of terrorists while carrying out clearing of debris and landmines in the town, rehabilitation and safety of people. As Tatmadaw organize residents to return to their homes, 597 people—362 men and 235 women— from 288 households have returned home up to 27 April.— MNA/TTA
