Three people have been killed in a series of bloody clashes between Hindu and Muslim communities in southern Nepal.
Following this violent conflict, the country’s new Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, has strongly urged the citizens to remain calm.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah had rarely appeared in public since assuming office last March. Breaking that long silence, he delivered his first major address to the nation yesterday, Thursday.
Urging citizens to act responsibly, the Prime Minister said, “Let us all come together to dispel the clouds of unrest.”
According to government officials, the violence first erupted last Sunday in a village in the Sunsari district, near the Indian border. A heated altercation broke out with local Muslims over the playing of loud music and the hoisting of religious flags during a Hindu religious procession. At one point, the situation escalated into a bloody clash.
Nepal Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle stated that two people were killed when police opened fire to bring the situation under control. Subsequently, another person died yesterday while protesting in violation of a curfew imposed in the neighboring Siraha district.
To prevent the situation from deteriorating further, the local administration has imposed a strict curfew in Sunsari and the surrounding districts.
Addressing the situation, Prime Minister Balendra said, “On behalf of the government, I humbly request all citizens, civil society, religious communities, leaders, political parties, and the responsible media to maintain patience and restraint. Our primary goal now is to preserve peace, harmony, brotherhood, and national unity in the country.”
Promising a completely “fair and transparent” investigation into the incident, the Prime Minister added that those responsible for the violence would certainly be brought to justice. Police are active on the ground to curb the violence and restore law and order.
Police spokesperson Kafle told the news agency AFP, “We have placed all police personnel on high alert. Our objective is to protect the lives and property of the people with minimal use of force and to avoid any confrontational situations.”
