Photo courtesy of Anadolu
At least three people were killed as clashes between Muslim and Hindu groups spread across southern Nepal, prompting authorities to impose curfews and deploy additional security forces.
The unrest began Sunday night in Sunsari district after a dispute during separate religious celebrations escalated into violence, according to local officials.
Angry crowds later attacked and damaged government offices, shopping centers and police posts in several affected areas.
President Ramchandra Paudel urged political groups, civil society and the public to preserve communal harmony, friendship and tolerance as tensions continued.
Hundreds of police officers and soldiers were deployed to contain the violence, while curfews were enforced in Sunsari, Sarlahi, Parsa and Janakpur.
Police opened fire during clashes in Sunsari, killing farmer Om Prakash Mehata and injuring several others. Jaya Prakash Mehata, who was also wounded, later died in a hospital on Thursday.
A third victim, identified as Ganesh Yadav, was shot and killed in Siraha district, according to local administrator Chatraj Baral.
The violence raised concerns in Nepal, which has largely avoided major religious conflict since it became a secular state in 2008. The country is also still recovering from protests in September 2025 that left more than 70 people dead.
