13 March 2026 — A senior commander of the Chinland Defence Force-Thantlang (CDF-Thantlang) was reportedly killed on Friday during ongoing fighting in Thantlang town, Chin State.
According to local sources, Salai Van Nun Ham, who served as the commando commander of CDF-Thantlang, died after an accidental bomb explosion occurred during military operations inside the town on 13 March. He had been actively leading frontline operations in the area at the time of the incident.
Salai Van Nun Ham was regarded as a key operational leader within CDF-Thantlang, commanding a commando unit that has taken part in several engagements against troops aligned with the military-backed State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) operating in Thantlang township.
Fighting in and around Thantlang has intensified in recent months as resistance forces and SSPC-aligned troops compete for control of strategic areas in northern Chin State. The town, which was heavily damaged during earlier phases of the conflict following the 2021 military takeover in Myanmar, remains a contested frontline. – Reporting by Daniel
