Death toll raises to 4 in violence in central Myanmar

Four people including a Buddhist monk were killed and 20 others injured in community violence triggered by gold trading in Meikhtila of Myanmar's northern region, official sources said Thursday.However, local media reported that the violence, starting from Wednesday afternoon, left at least 10 people dead and mosques burned down in the township of Mandalay region, leaving more than 700 people homeless.Violence broke out after a private shop owner disputed with a customer. About 200 people, with dissatisfaction over the trading, started to destroy the shop and some other shops nearby.There were still burning down of buildings, houses and petrol stations in some places in the township until Thursday afternoon. Some 10 private motor cycles were put ablaze in the incident.Local authorities issued a curfew order Wednesday night at 9 p. m. (local time), banning gathering of people in a bid to restore law and order.The situation in Meikhtila is so far calm following the imposition of the order as claimed by the authorities.