Daijiworld Media Network - Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Feb 23: Authorities in Nepal’s Parsa district on Monday imposed a curfew in parts of the border city of Birgunj following rising tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities in the Shripur locality.

The move comes days after similar communal clashes were reported in Gaur, the headquarters of Rautahat district. The incidents have heightened concerns just ahead of Nepal’s scheduled House of Representatives elections on March 5.

The District Administration Office, Parsa (DAO) announced that the curfew would remain in effect from 9:45 am Monday until further notice. Restrictions apply within the area bounded by Birgunj Bypass in the east, the Sirsiya River in the west, Gandak Chowk in the north, and Shankaracharya Gate in the south.

Under the prohibitory order, all public gatherings, rallies, demonstrations, meetings, and sit-ins have been banned within the designated zone.

Chief District Officer Bhola Dahal said the measure was taken to prevent further escalation after a local dispute in Shripur risked turning into a broader communal confrontation. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Hari Bahadur Basnet, spokesperson for the District Police Office, the tension began Sunday evening over a road obstruction.

Police stated that a four-wheeler driven by a Muslim resident was unable to pass due to motorcycles parked by Hindu youths. The argument intensified, with alleged exchange of provocative slogans, raising fears of religious unrest. Authorities said the situation has since been brought under control following the curfew’s enforcement.

Birgunj, which shares a border with Raxaul in India, serves as Nepal’s primary trade gateway and a key transit point for imports and exports. The city, home to sizable Hindu and Muslim populations, has experienced sporadic religious tensions in the past.
Earlier in January, restrictions were imposed in Birgunj after vandalism of a mosque in Dhanusha district triggered protests and raised concerns of wider unrest.

In Gaur, clashes erupted late last week when a Hindu wedding procession reportedly intersected with Muslim religious observances during Ramadan, further straining communal relations in southern Nepal.

Police officials said the curfew in Birgunj was intended as a preventive step to stop a localized disagreement from spiraling into broader communal polarization.