Police detained 40 individuals from various parts of Birgunj on Sunday morning for defying a curfew order issued in response to Saturday’s violence during a Hanuman Jayanti procession.

The District Administration Office, Parsa, initially enforced a curfew from 7pm on Saturday until Sunday noon in the main market area. In a notice issued on Sunday, Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal extended the order until midnight.

The curfew zone includes the area bounded by Bypass Road in the east, Sirsiya Bridge in the west, Powerhouse Chowk in the north, and Shankaracharya Gate in the south. The northern boundary, previously set at Gandak Chowk, was revised to Powerhouse Chowk on Sunday.

Violent clashes broke out in the Chhapkaiya area on Saturday after unidentified individuals reportedly hurled stones at the religious procession near Shreeram Hall Chowk, injuring 41 people, including personnel from Nepal Police and Armed Police Force as well as locals.

All the injured have since been discharged from hospital, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Kishor Lamsal, spokesperson for the District Police Office, Parsa.

The violence also caused property damage, with one shop completely destroyed and another partially damaged. Four motorcycles were set on fire, and four others were partially damaged. Several CCTV cameras were also vandalised during the incident.