The government has made an official press release on August 25, stating that conflicts at Katbalu Township in Saigang division have led to the burning of 44 houses and 12 shops.
State-owned media have reported that one rape suspect and 11 persons suspected of torching houses have been arrested. A fireman and a civilian were injured during mob attacks, but it does not state whether the injuries they have sustained are serious.
Further, it states that tea shops, rice wholesale center and some betel shops were also burnt down.
The state-owned media also reported that security men from Sagaing division and the Minister of Border Trade Affair were attacked with slingshots. Therefore, the police had to fire warning shots in the air to disperse the crowd. The police had to fire warning shots again to disperse mobs preventing fire engine cars from filling water to extinguish flames.
The government said that after the clashes the Chief Minister of Saigang, Division Ministers, Members of Parliament and religious leaders visited the conflict ridden areas. The Htan Kone village said that they have managed to control the violence by forming small groups at divisional level, district level police, and district and township level administration committee.
The government's official Ministry of Information website says that the immediate cause of the conflict was an attempted rape of a woman. Ko San Min Oo attempted to rape a woman aged about 25 when she was returning from work at 6pm on 24 August, between Htan Kone and Zei Pin Thar village.
Ko San Min Oo fled the scene after a passerby approached them. Thereafter, villagers surrounded and apprehended him and took him to Htan Kone police station. He was transferred to Katbalu Police station from Htan Kone and then to Shwebo police station.
The statement states further that around 7 p.m. about 150 villagers from Htan Kone and Zitaw villages went to Htan Kone police station and demanded the police to hand over the suspect. The police refused and thereafter, the mob started torching houses and shops.
The government announced that they have brought the violence under control and have appointed police for security. U Soe Moe Zaw, the Secretary of Sagaing Division confirmed the same to Mizzima.
However, U Soe Zaw did not respond to Mizzima’s query regarding the government’s security strategies and the actual number of policemen appointed for security.
The statement also says that relief supplies for 50 households have arrived and the authorities are planning to build temporary relief camps.
