Nepal extends indefinite curfew in Sunsari district near Indian border after communal violence kills 1, injures several
In a Nutshell:
- Violence broke out in Sunsari’s Dewanganj Rural Municipality after a dispute between two religious communities during the annual Bolbam procession.
- Police opened fire, killing 30 year old Om Prakash Mehta and injuring 22 people, including security personnel.
- Nepal’s Home Ministry formed a five member panel to investigate the violence and the use of force by security personnel.
Why it Matters
The quick descent into violence over a religious dispute in Sunsari raises a question for authorities: did police use only the force needed to bring the situation under control? Several gunshot victims suffered injuries above the waist or knee, putting the police response under scrutiny. The Local Administration Act, 1971 and Local Administration Regulations say firearms should only be used as a last resort after other crowd control measures fail and adequate warning is given. The issue now carries wider consequences as Sunsari remains an important Nepal-India transit and commercial corridor, where prolonged restrictions can affect movement and daily activity.
Who it matters to
Prime Minister Balen Shah has expressed grief over the violence, promised compensation for those affected and said action will be taken against those responsible after an investigation. But the government now has to show how those promises will be upheld, while also handling the wider fallout from the clashes. With curfew lifted along the East-West Highway from 7am to 3pm before being reimposed as tensions continued, authorities are under pressure to address concerns over the police firing while preventing further disruption in Sunsari.
