TONZANG, Myanmar — A military-aligned ethnic armed group has captured a resistance outpost in Chin State’s Tonzang Township, seizing a significant cache of weaponry and abducting three villagers during the assault.
The attack took place on the morning of March 22, 2026, in Gelzang village. Forces from the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA)—which has recently drawn criticism for its alleged collaboration with the sham government—launched a surprise raid on a camp belonging to the People’s Defense Army (PDA), a member of the Chinland Council (CC).
Local sources reported intense fighting before the outnumbered PDA personnel were forced to retreat. While casualties remain unconfirmed, the ZRA reportedly stripped the base of its assets before withdrawing.
“The ZRA took control of the camp after resistance fighters were forced to pull back due to the disparity in manpower,” a source in Tonzang told MPA. “They seized everything they could carry and left. They aren’t occupying the base permanently, but they have cleared it out.”
The seized haul reportedly includes 15 firearms, a drone, seven communication devices, and various crates of ammunition and military hardware.
As the ZRA forces withdrew from the area, they reportedly detained three residents from Gelzang village—two women and one man. The reasons for their abduction remain unclear, and their current whereabouts are unknown.
The chief of staff of CDF-Tonzang, Thang Suan Mung, has issued a stern warning to the ZRA, demanding the immediate return of the seized weaponry and the release of the civilians.
The incident highlights the complex and fractured security landscape in Myanmar’s borderlands. While many ethnic armed groups are fighting against the military, the ZRA has increasingly moved toward a partnership with the sham government.
On March 16, PDF Zoland—a member of the Chin Brotherhood—officially reported that the ZRA had entered into negotiations and formal cooperation with junta leaders. This alignment has sparked fears of increased inter-ethnic conflict in Chin State, as the sham government utilizes local proxy forces to target resistance strongholds that have otherwise proven difficult for regular army units to penetrate.
The Chinland Council and local defense forces are reportedly monitoring the situation closely, as the abduction of civilians marks a dangerous escalation in regional tensions between the rival groups.
