Nepal prime minister Balendra Shah on Thursday appealed for unity, restraint and social harmony after at least three people were killed in communal violence that began in Sunsari district and later spread to neighbouring Madhesh province. The violence prompted authorities to expand curfews and tighten security across several districts.
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Addressing the nation for the first time since the violence erupted, Shah said the government was treating the situation with its "full seriousness and sensitivity" and pledged a fair and transparent investigation into the clashes.
"The Government of Nepal is completely serious and sensitive about the tragic incident that took place in Dewanganj, Siraha and other places in Sunsari a few days ago and the turbulent atmosphere that has arisen in some districts since then," Shah said in the televised address.
The government's response comes amid curfews, prohibitory orders and heightened security deployments in Sunsari, Siraha, Dhanusa and Parsa districts. Since Sunday, protests and tensions have spread across Nepal's southern plains, raising concerns over wider communal friction in areas bordering India.
Violence spread to neighbouring Madhesh province on Thursday, where a teenager died during clashes in Golbazar market in Siraha district. Officials also confirmed that a person injured in the earlier violence in Sunsari succumbed to injuries in Koshi province, taking the death toll to three.
According to officials, the unrest began late on Sunday in Ward No. 3 of Dewanganj rural municipality in Sunsari district after a dispute between local groups over loud music during preparations for the Bol Bam pilgrimage to the Saptakoshi River. AFPreported that tensions escalated over loud music and religious flags during a Hindu procession, prompting police to open fire to disperse the crowd, according to local official Poshan Lamichhane.
The confrontation escalated into stone-pelting and violence, prompting police to intervene with batons, tear gas, warning shots and eventually live fire by the Armed Police Force. One person died on the spot from gunshot injuries, while several others were critically injured.
Shah announced that the ministry of home affairs had formed an investigation committee and assured the public that those responsible would be prosecuted.
"As soon as the incident happened, all security agencies immediately reached the spot and made continuous efforts to normalise the situation, prevent further unpleasant incidents and maintain peace and security. The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed an investigation committee to conduct a fair investigation into the incident and take strict legal action against the culprits." he said.
The prime minister said the government had adopted a multi-pronged approach to restore normalcy. He said an all-party meeting had been convened at the central level, while continuous dialogue was under way with local representatives, civil society members, religious leaders, community representatives and social activists.
"In addition, a meeting of the National Security Council has been convened to seriously review the overall peace and security situation in the country and necessary decisions have been taken according to the situation," Shah said.
In his four-and-a-half-minute televised address, Shah also urged citizens not to circulate misinformation or inflammatory content that could worsen tensions.
" The essence of all religions is compassion, mercy, love and peace. Blaming an entire community for an unexpected and tragic incident in one part of the country and spreading the fire of revenge for it in other parts of the country cannot be justified or justified from any perspective," he said.
Concluding his address in both Nepali and Maithili, Shah appealed for collective efforts to restore peace and preserve national unity.
