DAO orders curfew to prevent Hindu-Muslim clashes in Nepalgunj, prepares for all-party meet

NEPALGUNJ: Banke District Administration Office (DAO) has ordered a curfew and heightened security in Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City where tensions between Hindus and Muslims quickly escalated.

As many as 22 people including five security personnel were injured during a clash that occurred amid the curfew, according to the Banke District Administration Office (DAO). Of them, 21 returned home after receiving treatment at Bheri Hospital.

It may be noted that the Banke DAO has issued a curfew order for an indefinite period in the town since 1:00 pm on Wednesday following religious unrest reportedly escalated from a status on social sites that targeted the Muslim community.

Trouble began in Banke district over the weekend after a Hindu boy posted a status about Muslims on social media. Muslims protested the status inside the region's main government administrator's office building, burned tyres on the streets and blocked traffic.

A larger Hindu rally was held on Tuesday until stones and bottles were thrown at protesters, resulting in a few minor injuries.

The local administration has urged one and all to not upload any content that could jeopardise social and religious harmony on social sites. 

Nepalgunj-based political parties, religious leaders, civil society representatives and the general public have appealed for restoring peace and harmony in the town.  

Banke's Chief District Officer (CDO) Bipin Acharya informed that the DAO has initiated a process for an all-party meeting to settle down the latest developments in Nepalgunj, but the time has not been fixed yet.

Meanwhile, the curfew has been further intensified and people entering Nepal via Jamunaha point are being escorted to their destinations, he said.

So far 1,500 Nepali arrived from India have been safely escorted so that they could reach their destinations safely, Jamunaha's police beat's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Min Bahadur Bista said.

Nepalis are returning home from various places in India including Shimla, Kalapahad, and Delhi via Jamunaha point in the district.