NAUNGPAIN- Even though vehicles are now regularly passing through the Lashio-Muse Union Highway in northern Shan State, a Northern Alliance force burned a vehicle near Byone Mountain yesterday morning, between Namphatkar and Muse, along the Lashio-Muse Union Highway. They also used it to blocked the road, according to the sources.

Trucks and passenger vehicles leaving for Muse are now stuck waiting at the tollgate’s exit in Kutkai Township, only leaving for their designated destinations after investigating the regional situation.

“We left from Yay Pu tollgate around 6am of August 29th. Before arriving at the Manlwe, gunmen banned the vehicles and they ordered us to go to the village. When we arrived at the village, we found the flames leaping up from where vehicles were. Later, we found out that a vehicle was burned on the road,” said a driver who lost his 12-wheeled vehicle.

Among five trucks that were stopped, only a 12-wheeled vehicle was burnt down and the remaining vehicles were destroyed by other means.

About one hour later, the wheels of a small vehicle were also shot-out at the exit of Muse.

Armed groups also attacked the Theinni-Yay Pu checkpoint on Lashio-Muse Union Highway in the morning of August 24 with heavy weapons.

The attacks killed a militiaman who was carrying out security tasks at the Yay Pu Checkpoint and injured one.

The Northern Alliance, formed with Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Arakan Army (AA) and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) carried out heavy and small weapon attacks on the Defence Services Technological Academy, Goktwin police post, toll gates, narcotic checkpoint and local battalion headquarters on the morning August 14. The attacks caused casualties of civilians and security troops and damaged or destroyed public property including Goktwin Bridge.