India has urged Myanmar to handle the situation in its Rakhine state with restraint following the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees into neighboring Bangladesh.

In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs has expressed India's deep concern about the situation in Rakhine, where Myanmar's security forces have launched counterinsurgency "clearance operations" that refugees say have resulted in indiscriminate killings and massive displacement.

India urged that the situation in Rakhine be handled "with restraint and maturity, focusing on the welfare of the civilian population alongside those of the security forces." It says it's "imperative that violence is ended and normalcy in the state restored expeditiously."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Myanmar on Wednesday, when he discussed the security situation with Myanmar's leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi.