Nepal’s volatile borderlands are simmering once more, with curfew clamped down in Rautahat’s Gaur after brutal clashes between Hindu and Muslim groups. The violence, unfolding mere days before the March 5 national elections, has drawn sharp intervention from ex-PM Madhav Kumar Nepal.
In Sapguda, Ward 6 of Gaur Municipality, a wedding rally triggered the brawl. Arguments led to pelting stones, smashing property, and igniting a car. Tensions had simmered post a Friday agreement, only to boil over Saturday at 9 AM, forcing the 1 PM curfew.
NCP Joint Coordinator and Rautahat native Madhav Nepal, contesting locally in the polls, issued a stirring appeal. ‘Violence has no place in our society,’ he asserted. ‘Hindus and Muslims must mutually respect religions, cultures, and celebrations. Dialogue alone resolves conflicts; we’re interdependent communities.’
Urging the state to guarantee safety, Nepal is liaising with the Home Minister to defuse the crisis and end restrictions. His long tenure representing Rautahat lends weight to his words.
Authorities define the curfew zone meticulously: Gaur Customs eastward to Mudbalwa, Lalkaiya westwards, Bam Canal north. Nepal Army, police, and armed forces patrol rigorously. Dawn-to-morning slots (6:30-8:30 AM) offer slim relief for necessities.
Magistrate Dinesh Sagar Bhusal affirmed, ‘Situation under control and steadying. Curfew stays till safe to lift.’ Appeals for composure flood the airwaves as access locks down.
Against the election backdrop, this episode spotlights communal fault lines in frontier zones. Madhav Nepal’s proactive stance could prove decisive, fostering reconciliation vital for Nepal’s democratic process and peaceful coexistence.