A fragile calm prevails in Nepal’s border district of Rautahat following Saturday’s brutal showdown between rival groups. The spark ignited in Gaur Municipality’s Ward 6 during a wedding march in Subgarh, where arguments turned ugly, leading to stones flying and a car torched.
Local reports from Kathmandu Post reveal this wasn’t the first flare-up. Tensions had simmered before, culminating in a Friday evening pact that promised peace. Yet, by Saturday morning, all bets were off. District officials responded decisively, rolling out curfew from 1 PM across critical sections of Gaur.
‘Stability is returning, but we can’t risk escalation,’ said District Magistrate Dinesh Sagar Bhusal. The restricted zone stretches from Gaur Customs to Mudbalwa Gate in the east, Lalakaya Embankment westwards, and up to Bam Canal north. Heavily armed personnel from multiple forces now patrol the streets.
Morning hours offer brief relief for necessities, but travel remains heavily curtailed. Arrests of dozens linked to the violence signal the administration’s zero-tolerance stance. Community leaders face pressure to de-escalate as the district grapples with deep-seated divides.
This border hotspot’s unrest raises alarms for neighboring India, with security beefed up to avert wider disorder. Officials emphasize vigilance, promising swift normalcy restoration while calling for unity in diversity.