The Rakhine State Government has conducted population count in the Aungmingalar (a.k.a Inbalar) Quarters of Sittwe on 21 May, and found that the population in the only Muslim majority quarter in Rakhine State capital was lesser than it was in 2012, when sectarian violence erupted in the state. The population count was conducted after a petition filed by Rakhine nationalist group, in which they claimed that the number of people in Aungminglar has increased due to illegal migrant came to live inside the ward. The petition signed by 700 people including monks and Rakhine nationalist elements has claimed that the population of Aungminglar quarter was only 4300 before 2012 but it has swelled to 20000. They based their account on the rumors. The petition called for re location of the ward to the outskirt of Sittwe. However, a population count conducted under the auspices of the Rakhine State government has found that the numbers of people in Aungminglar ward has in fact decreased by 300 people and the current population stands at 3933. A resident of Aungminglar ward said, “we have been living here after 2012 never experienced such a population count being conducted. This is the first time the number of population is checked. The population count does not include identification of race. They just filled up the forms they brought with them. Beginning from past few days the authorities has reduced the number of shuttle bus between the camp and Dawein market. They also registered the number of people going in and out of the quarter“. Many Muslim residents of Sittwe have been living in the Aungminglar quarter as an internally displaced people (IDPs) since 2012 sectarian violence in Rakhine State.