Nepal Border Town Sees Flared Tension Following Mosque Vandalism; India Seals Border

Nepal Border Town Sees Flared Tension Following Mosque Vandalism; India Seals Border
———————–
Communal tensions have erupted in parts of Nepal along the Indian border, prompting authorities to enforce a high-security alert, Clarion India reported. Protests broke out in Birgunj, in Nepal’s Parsa district, after a video containing alleged religious content went viral on social media.

The demonstrations later turned violent, leading the district administration to impose a curfew in Birgunj city, which lies close to Bihar’s Raxaul district in India.

Amid a deteriorating security situation, India has completely sealed its borders, restricting all cross-border movements, barring emergency services, NDTV reported.

Tension began in Nepal after two Muslim men, identified as Haider Ansari and Amanat Ansari, in the Kamala Municipality of the Dhanusha district reportedly posted a video on social media that allegedly contained remarks insulting to some religious communities. The video soon became a flashpoint for communal tension in the Dhanusha and Parsa districts.

Locals soon caught the two men and handed them over to the police, saying the video threatened communal harmony. But soon after, a mosque was vandalised in the Sakhuwa Maran area of Kamala, deepening the communal tension and bringing people to the streets.

During the protests, Hindu organisations alleged that derogatory remarks were made against their deities, which further aggravated the situation.

The demonstration soon turned violent, with protestors pelting stones at police personnel and vandalising the local police station.

Due to the worsening situation in Nepal, many Indian migrant workers employed in Nepal have started returning home.