A four-day riot broke out last week in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city located in the central part of the country, following allegations that a Buddhist woman was raped by her Muslim employers. The riots resulted in the deaths of two people — a Buddhist and a Muslim — and at least 14 injuries. The situation calmed down after the government deployed police forces to secure the area and impose a curfew.

It came as the latest in a series of violent confrontations between the Muslim minority and Buddhists who compose the majority in Myanmar. Some Buddhist groups have been accusing the Muslim community of conspiring to dominate the whole country. While it is true that there is tension caused by religious differences, the violence in some villages was instigated by religious extremists.

Some have speculated that last week’s riots could be a plot to inflame religious hatred in the country. A few hours before the riots broke out, the Young Buddhists Association warned people about a plan to provoke violence in different cities.

Read more: globalvoicesonline.org Written by Thant Sin