Sunsari District Imposes Curfew After Communal Violence Kills One

A communal clash between two religious communities in the Sunsari district of Nepal's Koshi province left one man dead and 22 people injured. The violence erupted Sunday night in Kaptanganj, Dewanganj Rural Municipality, following a dispute over the use of loudspeakers, DJs, and religious flags during a Bolbam pilgrimage. The confrontation escalated into stone-pelting, vandalism, and arson, with protesters setting fire to houses, vehicles, and medical facilities.

Security forces, including the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, used tear gas and warning shots before opening fire to disperse the mob, resulting in the death of 24-year-old Om Prakash Mehta. Among the injured were 13 security personnel, including Inspector Rakesh Rai. The unrest later spread to the district headquarters of Inaruwa and along the East-West Highway.

To restore order, Ishwori Prasad Aryal, the Chief District Officer of Sunsari, imposed indefinite prohibitory orders and a curfew across several sensitive market areas, including Harinagar and Devgunj rural municipalities. While a brief window of movement was permitted on Tuesday morning, the curfew was reimposed as tensions persisted. The government deployed a combined force of 376 personnel from the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and the Nepali Army to the region. In a preventative measure, the neighboring Morang district administration prohibited the use of DJs at public functions to avoid similar escalations.