Nepal imposes curfews after Hindu-Muslim unrest leaves three dead

Nepal has imposed curfews in Sunsari and neighbouring districts after clashes between Hindu and Muslim groups in the country's south left three people dead. The violence began in a village in Sunsari district, near the Indian border, and later spread to nearby Siraha district. Authorities say the measures are intended to prevent further clashes and restore order.

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According to police, the unrest started on Sunday after a dispute over loud music and religious flags during a Hindu procession. Police opened fire to disperse the crowd, killing two men, a police spokesman said. A third man died on Thursday during a protest in Siraha district, despite a curfew already being in place.

Officials have not said how many people were injured. Prime Minister Balendra Shah made a rare public appearance on Thursday and called for calm in his first major address to the nation since taking office in March. He urged citizens, civil society, religious communities, political parties and the media to act responsibly and help remove what he described as the clouds of unrest.

Shah also promised a completely fair and transparent investigation, saying those responsible would be brought to justice. The unrest has drawn attention because it involves religious tensions in a region close to the Indian border and has already prompted a security response across multiple districts. Nepal is a majority-Hindu country, but its southern areas include sizeable Muslim communities, making local disputes potentially sensitive.

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The curfews suggest officials are treating the situation as a broader public order issue rather than a single isolated confrontation. Police said officers remained deployed in the field and were trying to protect public property while preventing further conflict with minimal use of force. The government has framed the response around peace, unity and national harmony, indicating concern that the violence could spread if not contained.

The deaths also raise questions about the use of force during crowd control and the handling of religiously charged disputes. What remains unclear is whether the curfews will be lifted soon, how many people were detained, and what immediate steps investigators will take. It is also not yet clear whether the dispute over the procession will lead to wider legal or political consequences.

For now, authorities are focused on restoring calm and preventing further unrest in Sunsari, Siraha and surrounding districts.

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