Around 20,000 soldiers and 200 military officers have left the Myanmar military. They deserted amid fierce fighting against Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) after a 2021 coup crackdown. Capt. Kaung Thu Win, who fled the military in Sagaing, Myanmar's region near India's Northeast, shared these details in an exclusive interview with The Hindu in New Delhi. He said the Myanmar army "indiscriminately killed civilians and confiscated private property and indulged in human rights abuses." He believes the upcoming election starting December 28 will not solve Myanmar's crisis. Capt. Kaung Thu Win said, "Many military personnel are unwilling to participate in the killings and property grab that are going on in Myanmar." He added that deserters are hiding in border areas next to India and Thailand and inside so-called “liberated zones” in Myanmar. The 36-year-old joined the Defence Service Academy at 16 and witnessed crimes since the coup began. "I saw the military using civilians as human shields, confiscation of private property by soldiers, arbitrary demolition of homes as punitive measures," he said. "All these were normal things for my colleagues. I could not accept that." He left in late 2021 after his wife gave birth, traveling by public transport to reach India in January 2022. His family joined him near Mizoram's border later. He now represents the group 'People's Goal' in India, campaigning for Myanmar's democracy. He noted India has allowed him to stay in Mizoram and visit Delhi despite challenges. "The junta wants to hold elections without reform," he said. "The armed struggle is the only option as the military is not serious about talks." He said about 30 EAOs resist the military, with 10 currently fighting. He urged India to tell Myanmar's military that "the people of Myanmar have rejected the election already." He warned that despite planned Indian election observers, a "silent strike" is happening with people boycotting voting. "The military can’t be trusted with military power," Capt. Kaung Thu Win concluded.