Nepal unrest: Communal tension grips Nepal; curfew imposed, border with India sealed
PTC News Desk: The District Administration Office (DAO) of Parsa in Nepal has extended the curfew in Birgunj city due to ongoing communal tensions sparked by a TikTok video.
The curfew was imposed initially on Monday afternoon following protests triggered by a video containing religious content. The demonstrations soon turned violent, with the Parsa district administration imposing a curfew in Birgunj city, near the Raxaul district in Bihar.
The communal tensions in the country have also triggered a high security alert along India-Nepal Border. Indian security frces have halted the civilian movement along the border, except for emergency services. Security has been significantly heightened and and special vigilance is being maintained at the Maitri Bridge connecting India and Nepal, where every person crossing the border is being thoroughly checked.
A dog squad team has also been deployed at the border to further strengthen security.
In wake of the deteriorating situation in Nepal, many Indian migrant workers employed in Nepal have started returning home.
Tension broke out in Nepal after two Muslim men, Haider Ansari and Amanat Ansari, from Kamala Municipality in Dhanusha district, allegedly shared a video on social media that contained remarks seen as offensive to some religious communities. The video quickly led to communal unrest in Dhanusha and Parsa districts.
Local residents caught the two men and handed them over to the police, saying the video could disturb communal harmony. Soon after this, a mosque in the Sakhuwa Maran area of Kamala was vandalised, which worsened the situation and led to protests on the streets.
During the protests, Hindu groups claimed that insulting comments had been made about their deities, further increasing tensions between communities.
- With inputs from agencies
