Authorities in Nepal imposed a strict curfew in the southern border city of Birgunj after protests erupted following the vandalism of a mosque in a nearby town, triggering tensions between Muslim and Hindu groups. The curfew, announced by the Parsa District Administration on Tuesday (December 6), bans all movement, public gatherings, and demonstrations, warning that security forces have been authorised to use lethal force against violators.

Muslim groups first took to the streets on Sunday, demanding justice over the desecration of the mosque, while a separate protest by Hindu demonstrators later the same day added to the unrest. Protesters were seen chanting slogans and setting tyres ablaze along Birgunj’s main roads, disrupting traffic in the strategic city that serves as a vital gateway for fuel, goods, and supplies entering Nepal from India.

According to a report by Euronews, despite the heightened tensions and heavy security deployment, no major communal clashes have been reported so far, with authorities confirming only minor scuffles between protesters and riot police. Armed soldiers and police have been stationed across Birgunj, located about 130 kilometres south of Kathmandu, as a precautionary measure to prevent the situation from escalating.

Officials said protests have continued intermittently, but there have been no reports of serious injuries or fatalities. Communal violence remains uncommon in Nepal, a predominantly Hindu nation where Muslim communities are largely concentrated in the southern border regions. Authorities have urged calm while investigations into the mosque vandalism are ongoing.

BOB Post