16 May 2026 – Chin defence forces killed at least 11 soldiers of the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) military, including a suspected battalion commander, in sniper attacks on troops stationed in Chuncung village, Hakha township, Chin State yesterday.
The clashes are part of the ongoing battle for control of the Falam-Hakha Road, a strategic route the SSPC is attempting to secure after seizing Falam town. SSPC troops entered Chuncung village, located about 10 miles from Hakha town, on 14 May, and continuous fighting has followed.
The local defence forces later recovered the bodies of six SSPC soldiers abandoned by their units during clearance operations in the surrounding areas of Laikua Pagoda Hill, Tower Hill, Tlangzar, and Ramthlo villages.
In response to the losses, SSPC military forces launched repeated drone strikes, though local defence troops reported no casualties.
The fatal sniper incident follows a separate resistance attack on 14 May near Chuncung, where Chin resistance groups used drones and artillery to target the advancing SSPC column, injuring a Hakha-based tactical commander and three officers, and killing four soldiers.
The military operations have resulted in extensive destruction to Chuncung village. SSPC troops set fire to parts of the village again at around 7 pm on 15 May following the clashes.
This was the second arson attack in two days. SSPC forces first entered the village on the night of 14 May and burned seven homes. The combined attacks destroyed a total of 23 civilian homes.
Furthermore, local sources reported that on 16 May, SSPC military forces detained a Baptist pastor, Rev. William of Chuncung Baptist Church, and a civilian, Mr. Nam Ceu, in a rural area near the village. The village, which has been a repeated target for military action, was previously reported to be under the control of the Chin National Army (CNA).
The offensive along the Falam-Hakha road is part of the SSPC’s broader campaign to recapture lost territories in Chin State. – Reporting by Daniel
