YANGON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A former township administrator in Mrauk U, Myanmar's western Rakhine state, has been murdered in a car with several stab wounds to his body, Myanmar News Agency reported Thursday.

U Bo Bo Min Theik was found dead under his car after the car crashed on Yangon-Sittway road, some 11 km north of Punnagyun, the police was quoted as saying.

The police described the death as the only first of a number of mysterious occurrences in the apparent murder case.

The victim, who left his position with Mrauk U township administration on Jan. 19 to become the Assistant Director of the Rakhine State General Administration Department, was said to arrive in Mrauk U on Jan. 25 for interrogation as part of an ongoing investigation into the death of seven people fatally shot during rioting earlier in the month.

After being questioned, he left to return to Sittway on Tuesday with three other people allegedly present in the car at time of accident.

The three people's whereabout is unknown but they were believed to have fled on foot towards a nearby mountain range.

Shortly after the accident, two men arrived on a motorbike and set the car on fire, the police added.

Investigation is being made into the case.