A founding member of the Chin Brotherhood told Khonumthung News that 89 members, and members of allied resistance groups, were killed during the five-month-long offensive to wrest Falam Township in northern Chinland from regime control. 

“These victories belong to all oppressed people,” Salai William Chin, the Secretary-General of the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF), told DVB. The CNDF is a member of the Chin Brotherhood, which was established in December 2023 by Chin resistance forces.

Falam is located 68 miles (109 km) north of the state capital Hakha. It was seized by Chin resistance forces on April 9 after first launching its offensive against regime forces in Falam on Nov. 9. 

At least 15 resistance groups fought alongside the CNDF and the Chin Brotherhood. This includes the Arakan Army (AA), which has lent support to Chin resistance forces since it seized Paletwa Township in southern Chinland in January 2024. Paletwa is 287 miles (461 km) south of Hakha. The AA controls 14 out of 17 townships in neighbouring Arakan State.

Salai Timmy, the CNDF spokesperson, told Khonumthung News that 40 of the 89 killed in Falam were CNDF members, including two medical personnel. He added that another 30 members lost limbs and 500 were injured. The capture of Falam was a symbolic victory for the CNDF as it celebrated its 4th anniversary on April 13.

Salai William Chin told DVB that a total of 91 CNDF members have been killed and another 63 have been disabled over the last four years in over 170 battles against regime forces. He claimed that the CNDF has seized a total of 13 regime outposts in Chinland since 2021. 

Fourteen towns in Chinland are under resistance control, including the Myanmar-India border town of Rihkhawdar. Hakha, Thantlang, and Tedim remain under regime control. Thantlang is 22 miles (35 km) west of Hakha. Tedim is 177 miles (284 km) north of Hakha.

At least seven civilian homes were damaged by an airstrike in southern Chinland’s Mindat Township on Wednesday. No casualties were reported as most residents had fled their homes during fighting there between resistance and regime forces last year.

The Chin Brotherhood seized Mindat, along with Kanpetlet Township, in December. Mindat and Kanpetlet are 171-189 miles (275-304 km) south of Hakha. Two previous airstrikes killed six civilians, including two children, injured 10 others and damaged the Mindat Baptist Church on April 9 and 13, 

DVB data states that 161 air and artillery attacks have been carried out nationwide since a ceasefire was declared by the regime from April 2-22. A total of 224 attacks have killed 156 people and injured 282 since the earthquake on March 28. 

The Chin Brotherhood is the armed wing of the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC), which was formed in response to the 2021 military coup by the Chin National Front (CNF), elected lawmakers, along with members of the Civil Disobedience Movement, which are striking civil servants who refuse to work under the military.

The CNF left the ICNCC in April 2023 due to an internal dispute. It established the Chinland Council, which led to fighting between the two factions, the Chin Brotherhood and the CNF-led Chinland Council forces, last year. But the two sides agreed to reunite and form the Chin National Council in February.