RANGOON, Burma – A court in Meiktila sentenced 19 Buddhists to prison Thursday (July 11th) for their involvement in deadly sectarian violence that erupted in the central Burmese town in March, media reported.

Clashes between Buddhists and the town's Muslim minority – allegedly including a massacre at a Muslim boarding school – left 40 people dead, 60 injured, and more than 2,000 homes destroyed.

The Buddhists sentenced over the course of Wednesday and Thursday were convicted of charges that included murder, assault, theft, arson and inciting unrest, AFP reported.

Nine of them will serve between seven years and life in prison, according to state media.

Earlier this week, authorities also allowed several Meiktila mosques to reopen, giving the Muslim community a chance to worship during Ramadan, which started on Thursday in Burma, The Irrawaddy reported.

The Meiktila region remains under a state of emergency, but authorities decided this week to shorten the night curfew. An estimated 13,000 people, mostly Muslim, were displaced by the violence, with many still living in temporary camps outside of town.