Maungdaw: One person was shot dead and three seriously injured by armed robbers,  who looted cash and jewelry from a goldsmith's house on Monday night in Maungdaw on the western Burma border, said a police officer.

"A Hindu youth, who tried to resist, was killed when the robbers opened fire. Three people were injured during the robbery of a goldsmith's house in a Hindu village in Maungdaw Township," he said.

About 15 armed robbers entered the Hindu village, located at four mile ward outside Maungdaw Town, at midnight, impersonating Nasaka officials.

They tied up four village sentries with ropes when they reached the entrance of the village. They forced the sentries to show them the goldsmith U Ni Maung's house. A nephew of U Ni Maung attempted to defend himself. The raiders shot him dead, the police source added.

The robbers also beat up many people in the village, injuring three villagers who tried to resist before they fled with the loot. Among those injured are one villager, who had an eye gouged out, and another who had his hand broken.

The deceased and injured were sent to Maungdaw hospital soon after the incident.

On the western Burmese border, there are a number of law enforcement agencies to maintain security, but robberies continue. People in the border area are now living in a state of insecurity.