Birgunj, a key city in southern Nepal close to the Indian border, has been placed under an extended curfew as communal tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities intensified over the past several days, prompting heightened security measures and deep concern among local residents and authorities.
The unrest began after a video shared on social media, reportedly containing offensive religious remarks, ignited anger across different communities. The social media flare-up quickly spilled into the streets, with protests erupting following reports that a mosque in the area had been vandalised. Muslim residents took to major thoroughfares, blocking roads, burning tyres and vocally condemning the destruction of their place of worship. Hindu groups also staged demonstrations, leading to a volatile situation with rival congregations confronting each other in various neighbourhoods.
In response to the escalating unrest, the Parsa District Administration Office swiftly imposed a curfew covering significant parts of Birgunj. The prohibitory order bans all movement, public gatherings, demonstrations and processions, and authorities have warned that security forces may use “shoot-at-sight” powers to enforce compliance. Armed police and soldiers have been deployed throughout the city, reinforcing checkpoints and patrolling key routes to deter further clashes.
Officials initially enforced the curfew for limited hours, but as tensions showed no immediate signs of abating, the restrictions were extended several times. At one point, the curfew was mandated from early evening until late afternoon the following day in an effort to contain protests and let tempers cool. The administration’s orders explicitly prohibit anyone from stepping into public spaces without explicit essential reasons, and residents have been urged to remain indoors.
The situation has also affected cross-border movement. Authorities on the Indian side sealed off the Raxaul border crossing with Nepal as a precautionary security measure, halting routine passenger and commercial traffic pending improvements in law and order in Birgunj. Only emergency services have been allowed to move across the border under tight supervision.
While local police have detained several individuals connected to the social media incident and the mosque vandalism in nearby areas, and negotiations with community leaders are ongoing, the situation remains fragile. There have been reports of isolated scuffles involving riot police, though no large-scale violence leading to significant casualties has been confirmed. Authorities from both religious communities have been engaged in dialogue, and calls for calm have been issued by civil leaders.
Communal clashes of this nature are uncommon in Nepal, where the majority Hindu population has generally lived in relative peace with minority religious groups. However, border towns like Birgunj, with their porous frontiers and diverse populations, have at times proven susceptible to flare-ups sparked by local disputes or provocative content circulating on social media.
As the curfew continues, local businesses remain closed and daily life has been disrupted. Residents are closely monitoring developments, hopeful that dialogue and the presence of security forces will prevent further escalation and allow a return to normalcy in this strategically important border city.
