The local administration in Nepal’s Parsa district has enforced a curfew in parts of Birgunj city to prevent potential religious tensions following the desecration of a mosque in southern Dhanusha district. After a video depicting the mosque vandalism circulated on social media, Nepal’s Muslim community protested in Birgunj, leading to demonstrations and road blockades. The incident originated from a TikTok video where two Muslim youths made derogatory comments about Hindus, resulting in a group of Hindus vandalizing and setting fire to the mosque in Dhanusha.
With Muslim community protests escalating, the District Administration Office in Parsa issued a prohibitory order in Birgunj, prohibiting fairs, public gatherings, processions, or protests in specific areas of the city. The order, effective from 1 pm on Monday until further notice, restricts activities within designated boundaries in Birgunj city. Any violation of this order will result in legal action as per the law.
Recent social media videos captured an unidentified group vandalizing a mosque in a Muslim neighborhood in Sakhuwa Maran, Dhanukamala Municipality–6, Dhanusha district, and burning a Quran copy. Superintendent of Police Bishwo Raj Khadka confirmed the arrest of two Muslim youths involved in the TikTok video and one individual linked to the mosque vandalism. These individuals have been remanded to judicial custody for five days by the Dhanusha District Court. Police are actively pursuing nine suspects accused of involvement in the mosque desecration.
