23 April 2026 — A member of the Chinland Defense Force (CDF) Matupi, Salai Van Thang, was killed during intense clashes near Falam town in northern Chin State on the morning of 23 April, according to local sources.
The fighting erupted as State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) troops, also referred to as junta forces, launched an advance in an attempt to retake control of Falam.
Salai Van Thang was a member of the Chin Brotherhood alliance under the Chin People’s Union (CPU)/Chinland Council (CPA).
The clashes intensified near Var bridge and below Surbung airstrip, a strategic location the junta has been attempting to recapture as part of its intensified military campaign in Chin State.
Local sources confirmed the junta forces utilized heavy airstrikes during the fighting. This escalation in Falam is part of a wider military campaign, which has also involved massive aerial bombings and the reported destruction of civilian homes in villages like Tlangzar and Tibual. – Reporting by Ben
