A 10pm curfew has been imposed in Lashio under Section 144 of the Penal Code after a violent incident in the town on Tuesday led to a mob burning Muslim homes, mosques and an orphanage.
Speaking to Mizzima on Wednesday, Ko Sai San, secretary of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party in the Shan State town of Lashio, said that the riot broke out after an altercation between a Muslim man and a Shan Buddhist woman erupted into a fight whereby the man threw petrol on the woman and set her alight.
While the woman was rushed to hospital and is said to be in a stable condition, a mob quickly formed and surrounded the police station where the suspect was being held.
Unable to persuade the Lashio police to hand the man over, the crowd headed to a local mosque near Myo Ma Market and set it on fire.
Upper House MP Sai San Min from the White Tiger Party said that a mosque, Muslim-owned shops and an Islamic orphanage were burned down in the riot.
Residents confirmed that security had been quickly beefed up with 10 army trucks arriving on Tuesday night with reinforcements and more police deployed.
A hospital staffer on Wednesday said that the burned woman was still receiving treatment but was conscious and answering police questions.
