The Ministry of Home Affairs has recalled Sunsari chief district officer Basudev Ghimire and transferred the heads of key security agencies in the district following a communal clash on Sunday night.

The ministry said Ghimire has been recalled to the home ministry in Kathmandu, while Sankhuwasabha chief district officer Ishwari Prasad Aryal has been deputed to replace him in Sunsari.

In a major security reshuffle, Koshi Province Police chief Deputy Inspector General Binod Ghimire has been recalled to Police Headquarters in Kathmandu. Deputy Inspector General Shekhar Khanal, who was serving at Police Headquarters, has been appointed the new provincial police chief.

Superintendent of Police Keshav Thebe, chief of the Sunsari District Police Office, has been transferred to Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa. Superintendent of Police Pushpa Raj Malla, who was serving at the airport, has been posted to Sunsari.

The ministry has also recalled Deputy Superintendent of Police Nanda Kishor Mahato from Armed Police Force, Kaptanganj. Deputy Superintendent of Police Madan Nath from the APF Headquarters in Kathmandu has been deputed in his place.

The administrative shake-up comes after violence erupted in Kaptanganj, ward 3 of Dewanganj Rural Municipality, at around 10:15pm on Sunday. The clash reportedly began over loud music played by devotees taking part in the annual Bolbam pilgrimage during the Hindu month of Shrawan.

The dispute quickly escalated, prompting APF personnel to open fire. Om Prakash Mehta, 30, of Dewanganj-4, sustained a bullet injury and died while being rushed to a hospital in Biratnagar.

A total of 24 people were injured in the violence, including nine civilians, 10 Nepal Police personnel and five APF personnel.

The ministry has formed a five-member investigation committee led by joint secretary Bhupendra Thapa to investigate the incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report within a week.

To prevent further unrest, the Sunsari District Administration Office imposed an indefinite curfew in designated areas of Dewanganj and Harinagar rural municipalities from 7 am on Monday. Security has been tightened across the district as officials hold talks with community representatives to ease tensions.