At least 56 people were killed in riots in four townships in the western Myanmar state of Arakan. The number includes 31 women who were killed. At least 64 others were injured in the sectarian riots which took place in October 2012, according to official governmental sources.

More than 1,900 homes and eight religious buildings were destroyed by arson fires during the riots, according to official statistics. It is not known how accurate these statistics are. The riots and damage were in the Myaebon, Mrauk U, Kyaukpyu and Minbya townships.

To help curb violence in the wake of the attacks, Kyaukpyu authorities imposed overnight curfews in some locations, including Minbya and Mrauk U.

The government and local officials worked with deliberate attention to keep the Arakan incident under some kind of control. A state of emergency, which included the curfew, was issued, and state radio and TV stations read an official announcement from the nation’s president.

Officials warned that they will bring to light and take legal action against anyone shown to be responsible for the conflict, the president’s announcement indicated.

In prior months, six other townships in the Arakan state had been placed under a state of emergency with a curfew which continued at the time of the later riots. They include Maungtaw, Buthidaung, Sittwe, Thandwe, Kyaukpyu and Yanbye.

With the two additional towns added, curfews remain in effect for eight townships at last report.

In the separate-but-related incident in May and June 2012 in the Arakan state, 50 people were killed and 54 others injured. When the property toll was counted, more than 2,200 homes were burned down and 14 religious buildings suffered the same fate, according to numbers from the president’s office.