Restrictions have begun easing in parts of Sunsari, Saptari and Dhanusha as violence subsides, but prohibitory orders and reinforced security deployments remain in sensitive areas. Markets and transport services are reopening gradually, while officials continue talks with political, religious and community leaders to prevent further confrontation.
The unrest began on July 26 in Kaptanganj, within Dewanganj Rural Municipality of Sunsari district, following a dispute over loud music during preparations for a Hindu religious procession. Tension had already been building over religious flags displayed at a public junction after Muharram observances.
The disagreement escalated into stone-pelting and attacks on security personnel. Police used tear gas and fired warning shots before the Armed Police Force opened live fire as officers struggled to disperse the crowds.
Om Prakash Mehta was killed during the confrontation. Jaya Prakash Mehta, who sustained gunshot wounds in the same incident, later died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Biratnagar. Several civilians and members of the security forces were among those injured.
Protests spread from Sunsari into parts of Madhesh Province, including Siraha, Saptari, Dhanusha and Parsa. Ganesh Yadav, a teenager from Aurahi Rural Municipality, was killed when security forces opened fire during unrest in Golbazar, Siraha, despite a curfew imposed earlier that day.
Authorities deployed Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepali Army across affected locations. Curfews restricted movement, public meetings, rallies and demonstrations, while residents were granted limited periods to purchase food and other essentials.
Sunsari lifted its curfew after a review of the security situation but retained prohibitory measures across several local units. Janakpur also ended its curfew while maintaining restrictions around locations considered vulnerable. Rajbiraj and Bodebarsain replaced curfews with prohibitory orders as officials reported an improvement in conditions.
The government has formed a five-member committee to investigate the original confrontation, the circumstances surrounding the police firing and the administrative response. Senior officials in Sunsari were transferred after questions emerged over intelligence failures and delays in addressing the dispute before it became violent.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah appealed for calm, dialogue and communal harmony, promising an impartial investigation and action against those responsible. His intervention followed criticism from lawmakers, rights advocates and opposition leaders who said the government had been slow to provide political leadership.
Home Minister Sudan Gurung travelled to Sunsari and met families of those killed. The government announced financial assistance of one million Nepali rupees for each bereaved family and pledged treatment support for the injured.
Political leaders and civil society groups have demanded an independent inquiry into the use of live ammunition. They have also called for compensation, public disclosure of the investigation findings and accountability for any officer found to have used disproportionate force.
Security agencies maintain that officers faced violent crowds, stone-pelting and attacks on police positions. Witnesses and rights campaigners have questioned whether non-lethal crowd-control methods were exhausted before shots were fired.
The episode has also exposed concerns over inflammatory social-media posts. False claims, altered images and provocative messages circulated as protests spread, deepening mistrust between communities. Police have assigned specialised teams, including an artificial-intelligence monitoring unit, to identify material intended to incite religious hostility.
Nepal has a Hindu majority, while much of its Muslim population lives in the southern plains. Large-scale Hindu-Muslim violence has historically been uncommon, although Birgunj, Nepalgunj, Kapilvastu and other border areas have experienced periodic disputes involving processions, religious sites and festival routes.
Security agencies had previously warned that unresolved local disagreements, religious mobilisation and cross-border ideological influences could create wider instability. Analysts say early engagement by local officials, elected representatives and religious leaders has contained comparable disputes in the past.
Community representatives have now agreed to pursue dialogue, discourage provocative gatherings and assist authorities in identifying those involved in vandalism or violence. Police patrols remain visible around markets, highways, places of worship and government buildings.
(IPA Service)
