U Pynya Thiri, 30, told police he was attacked at about 7:30 pm on March 28 at the Dhama Madai monastery near Buthidaung’s prison. At the time of the attack he was mediating in a small bamboo hut on a hill in the western section of the monastery’s grounds.

U Pynya Thiri claimed that 2 Muslim men approached the hut and asked him for cheroots. When he told them he didn’t have any they dragged him on the ground out of the hut and stabbed him in the back with a sharpened bamboo stick.

The monk reported the incident to U Nara Padi, the head abbot of Dhama Madai monastery, and later to the Buthidaung Prison staff.

The prison police arrested Mamad Inu and Zubai in connection with the attack. Both men are from the Let Way Dack Pu Zun Chaung village, located near the monastery.

Dhama Madai monastery in Arakan state, Burma.

Since the attack took place the army has been deployed to patrol the area and prevent any further incidents.