Nepal imposes curfew in Madhesh after deadly Sunsari communal clashes; PM calls security review
Nepal has widened its security response to communal tensions by imposing curfews in parts of Madhesh province, days after violence in Sunsari district left one person dead and more than a dozen people injured.
District authorities enforced restrictions in Dhanusa and Siraha on Thursday as a preventive measure, citing concerns that tensions could spread from neighbouring Sunsari, where unrest erupted earlier this week.
In Dhanusa district, the curfew came into effect from 3.30 pm and covers several sensitive locations, including Laxminia Hatbazaar, Belauni Road, Nagarain Municipality, Dudhmati Bridge and parts of Janakpur. Officials said the restrictions will remain in force until further orders.
A similar order was issued in Siraha district, where movement has been restricted in the Golbazaar stretch of the East-West Highway since 2 pm.
Why was the curfew imposed?
The latest restrictions follow communal clashes that broke out on Sunday in Sunsari's Kaptangunj area during celebrations involving two religious communities. The confrontation escalated into violence, prompting police intervention.
Security personnel opened fire to disperse the crowd after the situation turned volatile. One person was killed while more than a dozen others, including police personnel, sustained injuries.
Authorities initially imposed a curfew in Sunsari on Monday before extending it indefinitely on Wednesday.
Security remains tight in Sunsari
Officials say the overall security situation has shown signs of improvement, but restrictions remain in place across multiple sensitive locations.
The curfew has now been expanded to ten areas, including stretches of the East-West Highway. Authorities have prohibited public movement, gatherings, demonstrations, meetings and sit-ins while deploying additional security personnel across vulnerable locations and government offices.
Parliament raises concerns
The unrest also echoed in Nepal's Parliament on Thursday, where lawmakers urged the government to take immediate steps to contain the situation.
Members, including Basna Thapa of the Nepali Congress and Oren Rai of the Shram Sanskriti Party, expressed concern over rising tensions in Sunsari and other districts in southern Nepal.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah is scheduled to chair a meeting of the National Security Council later in the day to assess the evolving security situation, with particular focus on Sunsari and nearby districts.
Sunsari, located along Nepal's southeastern border with Bihar, serves as one of the country's key trade and transit corridors with India, making stability in the region strategically important.
With PTI inputs