Birgunj Curfew Lifted After Mosque Vandalism Protests

Authorities in Birgunj, a key border city in southern Nepal, imposed a curfew on Monday following protests by Hindu and Muslim groups sparked by the vandalism of a mosque in a nearby town, but lifted the restrictions Tuesday afternoon as tensions eased and normalcy returned.

The incident began over the weekend in Kamala Municipality, Dhanusha district, about 50 kilometers east of Birgunj. On Saturday night, a group of youths vandalized the mosque in apparent retaliation for social media posts containing alleged anti-Hindu messages by two Muslim individuals, who were subsequently arrested, according to police reports. Muslim community members staged demonstrations in Birgunj on Sunday to protest the mosque damage, prompting counter-protests by Hindu groups later that day and into early Monday. The rival gatherings defied an initial prohibitory order issued by the Parsa District Administration Office around midday Monday, leading to minor scuffles with riot police but no major clashes or serious injuries.

In response, the administration enforced a curfew starting at 6 p.m. Monday, restricting movement from the city's Bus Park area in the east to Sirsiya Bridge in the west, and...