Kutkai

Kutkai (

In the early 20th century, the area around Kutkai was explored by British botanists. In 1912, Stephenson documented that he had found the earthworm species Pheretima molesta of the genus Pheretima in Katkai.^[3]

Shan State became a major Christian area of Burma in the mid-19th century.^[4] Kutkai was an important centre for the Kachin Baptist Church and was visited by missionaries, notably Baptist Reverend George J. Geis in the 1930s and Gustaf A. Sword from 1936 to 1942.^[5][6] Geis died in Kutkai on October 28, 1936 whilst he was working there at the Kachin Bible Training School he had established.^[7]

During

In July 1954, Hoo Kya Chin, a Kokang businessman from Mu Kwan was arrested by the immigration officials in Kutkai for not carrying an identification card which caused some controversy in the region.^[10]

In the 1980s, two privates and a sergeant of the Kachin Independence Army insurgent 4th Brigade surrendered at Kutkai garrison.^[11]

On 7 January 2024, the town was captured by the Three Brotherhood Alliance from the State Administration Council during Operation 1027, an offensive launched during the Civil War.^[12]

Geography

Kutkai is situated in eastern-central Burma, several kilometres by road north of

As with many parts of Burma, the economy relies on agriculture, particularly rice production. Villagers in Kutkai Township are generally well educated in farming practices and in canning-bottling.[14] Of major note is the Kutkai Market in the town where people come from miles to sell their goods. Kutkai High School is located in the southern part of the town. The town also contains the Kutkai General Hospital.

In the 1990s, Kutkai township was exposed as a major raw