Ongoing fighting has displaced hundreds in the area.

Three civilians were injured in fighting between the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and members of the Northern Alliance of ethnic armed groups in northern Shan State’s Namtu Township on Saturday.

Clashes broke out in Mangsan village tract in the morning of February 16. Locals said there were three bouts of fighting between the RCSS/SSA and combined forces from the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which are members of the Northern Alliance.

“The combined forces [of the SSPP/SSA and TNLA] are stationed near Ner Keng village. The RCSS military column entered the village. Then both armed forces exchanged gunfire in a fight in the village,” a relative of one of the victims told SHAN.

According to locals, the three men injured were Sai Lay, Sai Myint and Sai Muu Oum.

The individual added that Sai Lay endured gunshots to his legs and has since been sent to Mandalay for treatment. Sai Myint was reportedly injured by shrapnel to his face. Sai Muu Oum has been hospitalized in nearby Hsipaw—his injuries were not known at the time of reporting.

Villagers who fled the clashes told SHAN that monks and novices also ran from the area as the fighting neared Kone Phala monastery.

“They also clashed near Mang Houng meditation monastery in northern Mangsan village. They fought at night. Some bullets hit the meditation buildings. Luckily, the meditation training course had stopped that morning,” a local villager said to SHAN.

Fighting has been ongoing between the RCSS/SSA and the Northern Alliance forces in Mangsan village tract since last week. According to volunteer working with displaced people from the area, hundreds of people from the villages of Ner Hok, Nawng Nguen, Mangmai, Samha and Ner Ngu have sought refuge elsewhere. Around 200 families are staying at monasteries and schools in the area.

Some 700 people have also fled from their villages in Kyaukme Township due to continued clashes.