27 April 2026 – State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) military forces detained two villagers from Sunthla village in Falam township, Chin State, using them as human shields before shooting and killing one of them.
The incident occurred on 24 April 2026, when SSPC troops entered the village and arrested two local men identified as Mr. Van Lal Tlan and Mr. Biak Lawm Sang.
A local resident confirmed to the Surbung Times that the detainees were used as human shields by the military column. Mr. Van Lal Tlan, aged 30, was killed the same day, and his body was buried on 25 April. He leaves behind a wife and two young children.
The condition and location of the second detainee, Mr. Biak Lawm Sang, remain a concern. SSPC forces continue to operate in the area, forcing local residents to flee.
This alleged war crime occurs as fighting intensifies across Falam township, which has been a major hotspot in the ongoing conflict for over six months.
The SSPC recently captured Falam town on 25 April 2026, securing the strategically important Surbung Airport.
The SSPC’s military campaign in Chin State is characterized by an escalating reliance on airpower, including the use of frequent airstrikes and reported deployment of prohibited cluster munitions near Sumhrang village. These strikes have targeted non-military infrastructure, damaging over 60 buildings, including schools and churches, and resulting in at least 15 civilian deaths between October 2025 and February 2026.
The military has also previously used detained civilians as guides or human shields in Tedim township.In response, Chin resistance groups like the Chin Brotherhood (CB) and Chinland Council (CC) continue to mount heavy resistance. – Reporting by Daniel
