Nepal curfew widens to fourth district as communal tensions spread
Nepal imposed an indefinite curfew in parts of Saptari after protests over the Sunsari communal clashes. The widening curbs across four districts underline fears of further unrest as the death toll reaches three.
Nepalese authorities on Friday imposed an indefinite curfew in parts of Saptari district in Madhesh province after protests broke out over the recent communal violence in neighbouring Sunsari. The move came as tensions continued in several districts, with curfews and prohibitory orders already in place in parts of Sunsari, Dhanusha and Siraha, taking the number of districts under curfew to four.
President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Balendra Shah expressed deep concern over the situation and appealed for calm, unity and restraint. Police said eight people had been arrested in Madhesh province for their alleged involvement in spreading communal violence, including five from Siraha and three from Dhanusha.
The District Administration Office in Saptari imposed the curfew in parts of Rajbiraj municipality from 8 am as a precaution after groups of people staged protests in response to the clashes. Authorities have stepped up security deployment in Nepal's southern Terai region along the Indian border as they try to contain tensions that have claimed three lives so far.
The violence began in Sunsari in Koshi province on Sunday, when members of two religious communities holding separate programmes clashed over the use of loudspeakers and the display of religious flags. Police intervened after a verbal altercation turned violent. One person was killed and more than a dozen people, including security personnel, were injured when police opened fire to disperse the clashing groups.
On Thursday, the violence spread to neighbouring Madhesh province, where a teenager died in clashes in Siraha district. Officials also said one person injured in the Sunsari violence died in Koshi province. In a separate incident later that night, police constable Narad Pariyar was shot by an unidentified assailant in Lahan municipality of Siraha district. He was hit in the right thigh and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Biratnagar, police said.
Prime Minister Shah on Friday held consultations with senior leaders of various political parties representing Madhesh province. Those present included Mahantha Thakur, Rajendra Mahato, C K Raut, Prabhu Shah and Samim Ansari. He also met Members of Parliament from Madhesh belonging to the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, with discussions focusing on the livelihood of Madhesi people and ongoing development and construction works.
In a statement on Thursday, President Paudel urged all political parties, civil society organisations and citizens to maintain peace and order and strengthen national unity. In a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Shah said the government would ensure a neutral and transparent investigation into the recent violence and hold those responsible accountable. Meanwhile, the District Security Committee in the border district of Sarlahi has made it mandatory for people entering Nepal from across the border to carry valid identity documents. Overall, authorities have widened curbs and security measures as Nepal seeks to prevent the unrest from spreading further.
With PTI Inputs
Nepalese authorities on Friday imposed an indefinite curfew in parts of Saptari district in Madhesh province after protests broke out over the recent communal violence in neighbouring Sunsari. The move came as tensions continued in several districts, with curfews and prohibitory orders already in place in parts of Sunsari, Dhanusha and Siraha, taking the number of districts under curfew to four.
President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Balendra Shah expressed deep concern over the situation and appealed for calm, unity and restraint. Police said eight people had been arrested in Madhesh province for their alleged involvement in spreading communal violence, including five from Siraha and three from Dhanusha.
The District Administration Office in Saptari imposed the curfew in parts of Rajbiraj municipality from 8 am as a precaution after groups of people staged protests in response to the clashes. Authorities have stepped up security deployment in Nepal's southern Terai region along the Indian border as they try to contain tensions that have claimed three lives so far.
The violence began in Sunsari in Koshi province on Sunday, when members of two religious communities holding separate programmes clashed over the use of loudspeakers and the display of religious flags. Police intervened after a verbal altercation turned violent. One person was killed and more than a dozen people, including security personnel, were injured when police opened fire to disperse the clashing groups.
On Thursday, the violence spread to neighbouring Madhesh province, where a teenager died in clashes in Siraha district. Officials also said one person injured in the Sunsari violence died in Koshi province. In a separate incident later that night, police constable Narad Pariyar was shot by an unidentified assailant in Lahan municipality of Siraha district. He was hit in the right thigh and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Biratnagar, police said.
Prime Minister Shah on Friday held consultations with senior leaders of various political parties representing Madhesh province. Those present included Mahantha Thakur, Rajendra Mahato, C K Raut, Prabhu Shah and Samim Ansari. He also met Members of Parliament from Madhesh belonging to the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, with discussions focusing on the livelihood of Madhesi people and ongoing development and construction works.
In a statement on Thursday, President Paudel urged all political parties, civil society organisations and citizens to maintain peace and order and strengthen national unity. In a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Shah said the government would ensure a neutral and transparent investigation into the recent violence and hold those responsible accountable. Meanwhile, the District Security Committee in the border district of Sarlahi has made it mandatory for people entering Nepal from across the border to carry valid identity documents. Overall, authorities have widened curbs and security measures as Nepal seeks to prevent the unrest from spreading further.
With PTI Inputs
Nepalese authorities on Friday imposed an indefinite curfew in parts of Saptari district in Madhesh province after protests broke out over the recent communal violence in neighbouring Sunsari. The move came as tensions continued in several districts, with curfews and prohibitory orders already in place in parts of Sunsari, Dhanusha and Siraha, taking the number of districts under curfew to four.
President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Balendra Shah expressed deep concern over the situation and appealed for calm, unity and restraint. Police said eight people had been arrested in Madhesh province for their alleged involvement in spreading communal violence, including five from Siraha and three from Dhanusha.
The District Administration Office in Saptari imposed the curfew in parts of Rajbiraj municipality from 8 am as a precaution after groups of people staged protests in response to the clashes. Authorities have stepped up security deployment in Nepal's southern Terai region along the Indian border as they try to contain tensions that have claimed three lives so far.
The violence began in Sunsari in Koshi province on Sunday, when members of two religious communities holding separate programmes clashed over the use of loudspeakers and the display of religious flags. Police intervened after a verbal altercation turned violent. One person was killed and more than a dozen people, including security personnel, were injured when police opened fire to disperse the clashing groups.
On Thursday, the violence spread to neighbouring Madhesh province, where a teenager died in clashes in Siraha district. Officials also said one person injured in the Sunsari violence died in Koshi province. In a separate incident later that night, police constable Narad Pariyar was shot by an unidentified assailant in Lahan municipality of Siraha district. He was hit in the right thigh and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Biratnagar, police said.
Prime Minister Shah on Friday held consultations with senior leaders of various political parties representing Madhesh province. Those present included Mahantha Thakur, Rajendra Mahato, C K Raut, Prabhu Shah and Samim Ansari. He also met Members of Parliament from Madhesh belonging to the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, with discussions focusing on the livelihood of Madhesi people and ongoing development and construction works.
In a statement on Thursday, President Paudel urged all political parties, civil society organisations and citizens to maintain peace and order and strengthen national unity. In a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Shah said the government would ensure a neutral and transparent investigation into the recent violence and hold those responsible accountable. Meanwhile, the District Security Committee in the border district of Sarlahi has made it mandatory for people entering Nepal from across the border to carry valid identity documents. Overall, authorities have widened curbs and security measures as Nepal seeks to prevent the unrest from spreading further.
With PTI Inputs
