Nepal local bodies urge social harmony after communal tensions in Madhesh

Local administrations in Nepal’s Madhesh region on Sunday appealed for social harmony after communal tensions erupted in parts of Parsa and Dhanushadham districts , prompting a high security alert across the southern plains.

The alert followed clashes in Birgunj of Parsa district , where several police personnel were injured during protests. The District Administration Office (DAO) , Parsa, issued a notice urging residents to maintain peace and refrain from activities that could disturb communal harmony.

“The Muslim community had come onto the streets and burnt tyres at two or three locations. We held discussions with community leaders and protesters, and the situation is now under control and calm,” Parsa Chief District Officer Bhola Dahal said.

Dahal said the administration has appealed to people not to incite social, religious or cultural animosity and warned against spreading false rumours. He added that individuals involved in promoting hatred or misinformation are being closely monitored on social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

The tension originated in Kamala Municipality of Dhanusha district after a dispute between two groups, allegedly triggered by religiously sensitive remarks made in a TikTok video. According to locals, two youths Haider Ansari and Amanat Ansari had uploaded a video in Janakpur that hurt religious sentiments and were subsequently handed over to the police.

The situation further escalated after a mosque was vandalised in Ward 6 of Kamala Municipality , triggering protests in and around Birgunj. Demonstrators burnt tyres and raised slogans, following which a brief clash broke out between protesters and police at Chhapkaiya Idgah Chowk. Police fired five rounds of tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Following the incidents, security has been tightened across all eight districts of Madhesh, with additional security personnel deployed at identified flashpoints.

Officials said future preventive measures would focus on early monitoring of sensitive social media content, swift legal action against those spreading hate or misinformation, strengthened coordination with social media platforms for content takedown, and enhanced digital literacy and community engagement to prevent the misuse of online platforms from triggering communal tensions.