The District Administration Office in Parsa has decided to lift the curfew in the Birgunj metropolitan area from Sunday midnight. The decision was taken by a meeting of political party representatives, government officials and other stakeholders.

Earlier on Sunday, Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal had extended the curfew, which was enforced from 7pm on Saturday, until Sunday midnight.

Police on Sunday detained 85 individuals from various parts of Birgunj for defying the curfew order issued in response to Saturday’s violence during a Hanuman Jayanti procession. They were later handed over to their relatives. The curfew zone included the area bounded by Bypass Road to the east, Sirsiya Bridge to the west, Powerhouse Chowk to the north, and Shankaracharya Gate to 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.

With an objective to restore peace and harmony, an all-party meeting of stakeholders was held Sunday evening at the District Administration Office in Birgunj. The meeting resulted in a five-point agreement aimed to end the tensions.

Key decisions include a thorough investigation and legal action against those involved in the recent incident. The meeting pledged to uphold inter-faith harmony and tolerance while supporting the legal process. It was also agreed to ensure free medical treatment for the injured and to initiate compensation for damage through the administration.

The meeting reached a consensus of not displaying weapons during religious or cultural events, with violators subject to legal consequences. Additionally, all religious institutions and affiliated schools or madrasas in the district will undergo close monitoring and any irregularities will be addressed under legal provisions.

The meeting was attended by Chief District Officer Aryal, Parsa Police Chief Gautam Mishra, Armed Police Chief Chief Radheshyam Dhimal, Intelligence Department Chief Dilip Singh and Colonel Nirajan Katuwal of the Nepal Army.

Political representatives included district leaders from Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), Janata Samajbadi Party, Aam Janata Party and Janamat Party, among others. Organisers of the religious procession were also present in the all-party meeting.

Violent clashes frequently occur in various places, mostly in Tarai districts, between groups of local communities while taking out religious processions. In February last year, Rautahat District Administration Office had enforced a curfew order after a clash between two groups in Ghiuratole of Ishnath Municipality-7 took a nasty turn.

Locals of the Ghiura settlement, who were heading to a nearby lake to immerse an idol of goddess Saraswati as part of a religious ritual, had been obstructed by another group of people for allegedly playing loud music.

In 2019, the Kapilvastu District Administration Office had clamped an indefinite curfew in Krishnanagar, a marketplace near Nepal-India border after a dispute between members of the Hindu and Muslim communities turned violent. The dispute had ensued when a group of Hindus were heading to immerse idols of goddess Laxmi into Badya lake.