BIRATNAGAR, July 30: A fatal clash between two communities in Kaptanganj of Devanaganj Rural Municipality-3, Sunsari, has sparked protests across several Tarai districts, raising concerns over communal tensions and the failure of authorities to address a dispute before it turned violent.
The incident began on Sunday night when a dispute broke out between local youths from two communities over the playing of a DJ during preparations to collect water from the Koshi River for offering at a Shiva temple on Monday in the month of Shrawn.
As tensions escalated, Nepal Police reached the scene. The Armed Police Force was later deployed after police failed to bring the situation under control.
The clash intensified, with protesters reportedly pelting security personnel with stones. Police initially fired warning shots into the air. Eyewitnesses said the area was plunged into darkness after electricity supply was disrupted, and panic spread after several youths were hit by bullets.
The injured were taken to various hospitals in Biratnagar, where one person was pronounced dead.
Flag dispute also fueled tensions
Although the immediate trigger appeared to be the DJ row, locals said a dispute over a religious flag had been simmering between the two communities for weeks.
Local resident Dipendra Jha said members of the Hindu community had repeatedly asked the Muslim community to remove a flag erected at a local junction during Muharram after the religious observance ended.
Jha said local representatives, including the chairperson of Ward No. 3, had been informed about the issue, but no effective action was taken.
According to him, the dispute over whether the flag should be removed had fueled tensions between the two communities for about a week. Locals said tensions escalated after a flag erected during Muharram about a month ago remained in place as another community's festival approached.
Locals accused the police administration and local government of failing to intervene despite being aware of the growing tensions.
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Questions over police firing
The Armed Police Force arrived at the scene after the protest turned violent to assist Nepal Police. Security personnel reportedly fired warning shots after protesters pelted them with stones.
However, locals disputed the official account, claiming that some protesters were shot above the waist. They said the firing resulted in one death and injuries to several others.
Locals said similar disputes had occurred in the past but were resolved through discussions involving the local administration, police, political leaders and religious representatives.
This time, however, the authorities failed to intervene effectively at an early stage, allowing what began as a minor dispute to escalate into a fatal confrontation, they said.
Protests spread across Tarai
The protests that followed the Devanaganj incident have spread from Sunsari to Biratnagar, the capital of Koshi Province, and other parts of the Tarai.
Biratnagar remained affected throughout Tuesday, while youths in Rangeli Bazaar, the former district headquarters of Morang, shut down the market on Wednesday.
Educational institutions in Biratnagar were also closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Locals have expressed dissatisfaction with the government's decision to form an investigation committee without first arresting those allegedly involved in the violence. Demonstrators took to the streets in Devanaganj on Wednesday, demanding the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Condition of injured improves
Those injured in Sunday's clash are being treated at several hospitals in Biratnagar. Some sustained bullet wounds, while others were injured in stone-pelting.
Nine people were admitted to Neuro Hospital. One of them died, while the remaining eight are undergoing treatment.
Four people were admitted to Birat Nursing Home, two to Nobel Medical College and two to Birat Teaching Hospital. One of those admitted to Birat Teaching Hospital was discharged on Tuesday.
Morang Police spokesperson DSP Makendra Kumar Mishra said one injured person was receiving treatment at Shree Hospital, two at Golden Hospital and two at Prime Hospital.
He said the condition of three people who sustained bullet injuries had improved following surgery. The condition of the other injured was also improving, he said, citing doctors.
Koshi government announces relief
The Koshi provincial government has announced financial assistance for the family of the person killed in the incident, those injured and families whose property was damaged by arson and vandalism.
The provincial government has decided to provide Rs 200,000 to the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to those injured and families affected by arson and vandalism.
The announcement was made at an all-party, all-sided meeting held Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki.
Karki said the meeting also adopted an eight-point decision aimed at strengthening social harmony, peace and security in response to the situation following the incident.
The meeting paid tribute to Om Prakash Mehta, who died in the incident, and expressed condolences to his bereaved family. It also wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The decisions call for coordinated efforts among political, social and administrative stakeholders to preserve social harmony and communal unity. All-party and all-sided meetings will be organized at the local-government level, along with programs to promote communal harmony.
The provincial government also decided to organize goodwill rallies, public appeals and reconciliation programs in coordination with local administrations.
Religious organizations representing different communities will issue a joint appeal and work to promote social harmony. Security agencies will increase vigilance against possible undesirable activities in border areas.
The meeting also decided to request the federal government to provide treatment for the injured and relief to the families of those killed.
The provincial government will coordinate with district administration offices to strengthen security arrangements in affected districts and surrounding areas to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Chief Minister Karki urged all sides to exercise restraint and play an active role in maintaining social harmony amid the sensitive situation.
The meeting was attended by representatives of various political parties, including Rastriya Swatantra Party provincial chair Chandra Bahadur Rai, Nepali Congress provincial president Uddhav Thapa and CPN-UML provincial chair Ghanshyam Khatiwada, as well as chiefs of provincial-level security agencies.
