KATHMANDU, Feb 22 – The atmosphere remains tense in Nepal’s southeastern Rautahat district near the Indian border. What started as a verbal spat during a wedding procession in Ward 6’s Subgarh area quickly escalated into full-blown violence on Saturday. Local authorities swiftly imposed a curfew in Gaur Municipality to prevent further chaos.
The clash between two community groups involved stone-pelting and arson, with one vehicle set ablaze. Despite a six-point agreement reached the previous evening to calm frayed nerves, tensions reignited around 9 AM Saturday. By 1 PM, the district administration had no choice but to enforce curfew orders.
District Magistrate Dinesh Sagar Bhusal confirmed the measure will stay in place until the situation stabilizes. ‘We’re monitoring closely, and the curfew will lift as soon as conditions improve,’ he stated. Security forces, including the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force, have been deployed across the affected zones.
The curfew covers key areas from Gaur Customs Office eastward to Mudbalwa Gate, westward to Lalakaya Embankment, and northward to Bam Canal. Limited relaxations allow essential movement between 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM. Dozens of individuals accused of instigating the clashes have been detained.
Authorities urge residents to exercise restraint amid heightened security. This incident underscores ongoing community frictions in the region, with officials vowing strict action against provocateurs. As forces work to restore order, the border area’s stability hangs in the balance, prompting concerns over potential spillover effects.