Military junta attempts to restart administrative mechanism in Hkamti town despite fierce fighting along Tamu-Kalay road

Despite ongoing fierce fighting along the Tamu-Kalay road in Tamu Township, Sagaing Region, the military junta is attempting to restart the administrative mechanism in Hkamti town, according to local residents. The military junta launched a large-scale offensive and recaptured Hkamti town, a vital point for India-Myanmar border trade controlled by revolutionary forces, on June 19. Following this, the military junta has been relocating non-CDM civil servants from Tamu to Hkamti via Kalay and is planning and implementing the restart of the administrative mechanism. "Since about last week, civil servants have been sent from Tamu to Kalay by helicopter, and from Kalay to Hkamti by military vehicles. The main purpose is to restart the administrative mechanism," a Tamu resident told the Ayeyarwaddy Times. Furthermore, it is reported that the military junta is planning to allow displaced local residents to return in the first week of August, after administrative tasks are completed. "Once administrative work in the town is completed, we are planning to call the residents back. We are working to ensure everyone can return in August," the Tamu resident added. Although the military junta is attempting to restart administrative mechanisms in Hkamti town, fighting continues to be fierce along the Tamu-Kalay road and the India-Myanmar border. Due to the border military tensions, the Indian army has increased security along the border and is reportedly conducting threatening firing to prevent bullets from landing on the Indian side.