The Commander-in Chief of Myanmar military, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, said that more than 20,000 Rakhine Buddhists were killed in intercommunal violence that broke out in two Rakhine State towns of Buthidaung and Maungdaw and Buthidaung in 1942. He made the comment during a meeting with a former secretary general of the United Nations Mr Kofi Annan on 8 September. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing told Mr Annan, who is appointed as the head of an advisory commission on Rakhine State, that the Myanmar military would help the government in its efforts to reduce the tense inter communal relations in Rakhine State that has been exist since the latest sectarian violence in the state in 2012. He said Rohnigya has attacked the Rakhine in 1942 with arms given to them by the retreating British troops to stop the advancing Japanese troops. He said that incident has led to a deep-rooted animosity against Rohingyas among the Rakhine Buddhists. He added that Rohnigya in Rakhine State has formed Mujahid troops and revolted against the central government during pre-independence period in 1947. They continued their rebellion after the independence. The Commander-in-Chief said according to 1942 population records there were 124,452 Rohingya lived in Maungdaw Region alone and according to 1986 records the population has increased by two folds over the period of 40 years and reached more than 260 000 people. He said population growth was due to many people in the region have practiced polygamy. Reference: Frontier Myanmar