Sri Lanka riots: More Muslim-owned shops vendalised, building burnt down as violence aggravates
State of emergency was imposed in Srilanka on March 6, 2018, after a riot between Buddhist and Muslim.
Despite the emergency, there are stories of religious violence taking a rough turn. On Thursday Buddhist mobs swept through towns and villages and burnt down Muslim homes.
Concerned with the aggravating situation, the Srilanka government has ordered a ban on popular social media networks so that the violence doesn't spread. In order to grab the situation under control, curfew has been imposed in many areas.
Also Read: Sri Lanka Communal Violence: Indian Cricket team trapped! 10-days nation-wide curfew imposed
Hundreds of Muslim residents of Mullegama, a village in the hills of central Sri Lanka, barricaded themselves inside a local mosque after Buddhist mobs attacked their homes. At least 20 homes were badly damaged and one two-story home engulfed in fire.
According to a Muslim sources Buddhist were using improvised explosives. On the other hand, a Buddhist monk at the temple said the attacks on the Muslim homes took place after some people pelted the temple with rocks.
In SriLanka, Muslims own many of the small businesses. The situation here worsened in recent years amid the rise of hard-line Buddhist groups, which accuse Muslims of forcing people to convert and destroying sacred Buddhist sites.
First published: 8 March 2018, 13:33 IST
