A five-member committee appointed by Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs has launched an investigation into communal violence that erupted in Sunsari’s Dewanganj Rural Municipality, resulting in one death and multiple injuries. The inquiry began Tuesday following clashes during the annual Bolbam procession that escalated into violence between local communities.
The committee, chaired by Joint Secretary Bhupendra Thapa, visited injured individuals receiving treatment at hospitals in Biratnagar, including Neuro Hospital and Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital. Later, the panel met with local stakeholders at the District Administration Office in Inaruwa to gather additional information. Superintendent of Police Bipin Regmi, a committee member, said the group is expected to submit its report within a week but declined to provide further details during the ongoing investigation.
The unrest began late Sunday night in Kaptanganj after a dispute over loud music during the Bolbam procession. According to police reports, a crowd armed with stones and sticks attacked officers attempting to intervene, resulting in injuries to 13 security personnel from the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force. Police opened fire after other crowd-control measures, including tear gas and baton charges, failed to disperse the crowd. Om Prakash Mehta, 30, a farmer from Dewanganj, was shot in the abdomen and died en route to hospital. At least 22 people, including security staff, were injured in the violence.
Authorities have faced criticism and scrutiny over the use of live ammunition. Human rights advocates and security analysts questioned whether police followed legal protocols requiring firearms as a last resort, after non-lethal methods and sufficient warnings proved ineffective. The Local Administration Act, 1971, and related regulations mandate minimal use of force in such situations.
In response to public outcry, the government transferred Sunsari Chief District Officer Basudev Ghimire, Koshi Province Police Chief Deputy Inspector General Binod Ghimire, and Sunsari Police Chief Keshav Kumar Thebe on Monday. Despite these changes, protests continued in various parts of the district, prompting officials to impose a curfew from 3:30 p.m. until further notice along a four-kilometer stretch of the Mahendra Highway and in Inaruwa’s market area. Newly appointed Chief District Officer Ishwari Prasad Aryal appealed for residents to observe the curfew and avoid gatherings.
Local elected representatives from affected municipalities jointly called for calm and an impartial investigation. Chairs Gafar Ansari Miya (Harinagar Rural Municipality), Ayub Ansari (Koshi Rural Municipality), Ajmal Akhtar Azad (Bhokraha Narsingh Rural Municipality), and Bechen Prasad Mehta (Dewanganj Rural Municipality) urged the community to refrain from vandalism and violence, emphasizing dialogue to restore harmony.
The Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and Nepali Army have been deployed district-wide to maintain order, with the military conducting armored patrols. An indefinite curfew has been in place since Monday in parts of Dewanganj and neighboring Harinagar Rural Municipality due to the spread of unrest.
Health Minister Nisha Mehta visited Biratnagar hospitals Tuesday to monitor treatment of the injured and assured families the government would cover medical expenses and provide necessary support. Meanwhile, civic leaders and politicians have appealed for restraint and condemned attempts to politicize the incident. Rastriya Swatantra Party Chair Rabi Lamichhane urged the public to resist rumors and uphold Nepal’s religious and cultural diversity.
Despite these efforts, tensions remain high in Sunsari, with security forces maintaining a strong presence to prevent further escalation.