Nepal has enforced curfews in parts of the southern Terai plains after clashes between Hindu and Muslim communities left at least two people dead. The unrest followed an attack on a convoy of Hindu pilgrims in Sunsari district. Authorities say Nepal Police and unified security forces are working to prevent further vandalism and arson, while the president and prime minister have called for unity and promised investigations and care for the injured.
Nepal Imposes Curfews in Terai After Deadly Hindu-Muslim Clashes
FILE PHOTO - Himalayan peaks are visible from Kathmandu, after a western weather system brought rainfall and snowfall across the country a day earlier, clearing haze and revealing distant mountains. (is associated with: «Nepal enforces curfew amid escalating religious tensions») Safal Prakash Shrestha/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Nepali authorities have imposed curfews across parts of the southern Terai plains after tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities escalated and at least two people died, officials said on Thursday.
Where the Measures Apply
The curfews cover sections of Siraha, Sunsari and Dhanusa districts along the border with the Indian state of Bihar, areas where communal tensions have been rising in recent days, Nepal Police spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle said.
Security Response
"Nepal Police is working with the unified security forces to prevent vandalism, arson and communal tension," Kafle said.
Officials say security forces have been deployed to maintain order and to protect vulnerable sites while authorities investigate the incidents.
Casualties and Incident Details
Kafle said at least two people were shot and later died after violence erupted on Sunday. The unrest followed an attack on a convoy of Hindu pilgrims in Sunsari district who were travelling to a temple. One victim died on the day of the shooting; the other, who had been receiving treatment, died at a hospital on Thursday.
It remains unclear who fired the shots, and no security agency or group has claimed responsibility.
Official Statements
President Ramchandra Paudel expressed concern over the violence and appealed for social, religious and ethnic harmony across the country. In a separate address, Prime Minister Balendra Shah pledged a transparent investigation, assured that injured people would receive medical care and vowed action against those spreading hate and misinformation.
Context
Nepal has a population of about 29 million people and is roughly 81% Hindu, with Buddhists, Muslims and Christians among the country's other religious communities. Local leaders and security officials say they are working to defuse tensions and restore normalcy in the affected districts.
Note: Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and to avoid sharing unverified information on social media that could inflame communal tensions.
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