YANGON, July 5 (Xinhua) -- More conflicts took place in Sittway and Buthidaung in Myanmar's Rakhine state over the past two days, prompting the deployment of additional security forces to the areas, the State Counselor's Office said Wednesday.
A man was killed with six others injured when they were attacked by a mob at the Yaung Ni Oo jetty in Sittway on Tuesday where they were negotiating a deal to buy a boat from a businessman, the office said.
The seven people had traveled from a camp, Darpaing, on the outskirts of the town and they were hit with bricks by the mob. Several arrests were made in connection with the incident.
In two other incidents, 10 unidentified men stabbed two villagers to death at Yinmakyaung Taung village in Buthidaung township on Monday, while 15 masked men abducted a sleeping man in Maunghnama village. His whereabouts remained unknown.
The local police authorities are making investigation into all the incidents.
Myanmar security forces have been put on high alert in Maungtaw.
In the past two weeks alone, six civilians have been murdered and two others have gone missing or been abducted.
The incidents have prompted nearly 200 Rakhine villagers to flee the area.
Security has been tightened near villages in Maungtaw with Rakhine state Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Htein Lin calling for public cooperation for their security.
According to a statement of the National Security Advisor on the security situation in the state released at the weekend, the military has found increasing evidence of extreme activities in recent weeks with tunnels, guns and a terrorist training camp being uncovered in Bhthidaung-Maungtaw area's Mayu Mountain.
Three armed attackers were killed during the area clearance operation by the security forces last week.
Tension has been going on in the state, especially after last year's Oct. 9 violent attacks by armed men on three border outposts in Maungtaw.
The statement disclosed that during the period from October last year to June 26 this year, a total of 38 civilians had been murdered in Maungtaw area with 22 others missing or abducted including four community leaders.
The statement pledged to continue to assess the security situation and take appropriate actions to secure long-term stability and peace in the region.
