Simara, an emerging city in Bara district of Madhesh Province, has been struggling to return to normalcy following two days of violent clashes. The district administration clamped a curfew in Simara and its vicinity on Thursday, for the second consecutive day, fearing any untoward incidents.

Tensions flared up in the Simara area on Thursday since youths identifying themselves as Gen Z returned to the streets a day after clashes with CPN-UML cadres. Protesters gathered at Simara Chowk from 11am. Police used force to disperse them, and authorities later imposed a curfew to bring the situation under control.

Bara’s Assistant Chief District Officer Chhabi Raman Subedi said the curfew was enforced from 12.45pm to 8pm.

Gen Z protesters accused police of failing to arrest individuals named in their complaint over Wednesday’s clash. Police have since detained two local officials elected on the CPN-UML ticket. Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra said Ward Chair Dhan Bahadur Shrestha of ward 2 of Jeetpur-Simara Sub-metropolitan City and Ward Chair Kaimudin Ansari of ward 6 were arrested.

Six Gen Z supporters were injured on Wednesday. The group lodged a complaint against six UML cadres over the confrontation at Simara Chowk. Gen Z district coordinator Samrat Upadhyaya said they resumed protests because some of the accused had not been detained.

The clash between Gen Z youth and UML supporters had left the area tense throughout Wednesday. Police fired teargas canisters after the confrontation escalated near Simara Airport, forcing the airport to halt operations.

The UML had been preparing for days to hold its ‘Youth Awakening Campaign’ in Parwanipur on Wednesday. UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel and politburo member Mahesh Basnet were scheduled to fly from Kathmandu and land at Simara around 10:30am, but neither made the trip after Simara airport was closed.

On Tuesday evening, Upadhyaya posted on Facebook, urging young people to demonstrate in Simara against what he called the ‘outgoing murderous government’. His post, widely shared in the district, sparked concern among security agencies.

By around 10 am Wednesday, 100-150 youths gathered at Simara Chowk, many of them reportedly planning to protest the arrival of Basnet, who in the past has faced strong criticism over his aggressive political style.

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra called Gen Z protesters in Simara for talks on Thursday. According to Bhattarai, a meeting of the District Security Committee decided to invite the protesters to the District Administration Office in Kalaiya for talks.

However, Gen Z district coordinator Upadhyaya said that talks would take place only after the individuals involved in attacking Gen Z youths were arrested. “Our protest and negotiations will move ahead simultaneously,” Upadhyaya said. “Unless six individuals named in the complaint are arrested and action taken, demonstrations will continue.” He also accused police of falsely claiming that two suspects had been arrested, saying they had voluntarily appeared at the police office. “We don’t want anyone’s blood to be spilled,” he added.

Meanwhile, the District Police Office issued a statement confirming that investigation has begun against the two people in custody—Shrestha, chair of ward 2, and Ansari of ward 6.

As protests continued for a second day on Thursday, the administration reimposed a curfew from 12:45 pm to 8 pm. Demonstrators defied the order, leading to clashes in which four protesters and six police personnel were injured. Police said six rounds of tear gas and two warning shots were fired after the crowd began pelting stones.

The situation gradually returned to normal as protesters halted their demonstrations and cleared the road after 4:30 pm, allowing traffic to resume along the Birgunj-Pathlaiya road section. Simara Bazar returned to normal, with people moving about as usual. The impact of the curfew in the market area was minimal. However, protesters have warned that they would resume demonstrations on Friday unless the individuals named in their complaints are arrested. A heavy security presence remains throughout Simara.

According to Manish Sapkota, spokesperson for the Gen Z Jitpur-Simara Municipal Committee, the group has decided not to sit for talks with the administration until the arrest of Arbind Sah and Arif Khan, members of the UML-affiliated youth wing in Simara. “We are positive about negotiations. But we will not attend talks until the main individuals responsible for the beatings are arrested. If they are taken into custody, we may go for talks after 10 am on Friday. We stopped our protest at 4:30 pm,” said Sapkota. He emphasised that during the demonstrations, they avoided any destruction, arson, or other undesirable actions.