According to the DAO notice, no movement or assemblies are allowed within boundaries marked by Mudbalwa Gate (east), Lalbakaiya Dam (west), Bam Canal (north), and Gaur Customs Office (south), effective from 1 PM onward.

Chief District Officer Dinesh Sagar Bhusal detailed the sequence of events to media outlets. ‘Thursday’s wedding procession hit trouble when loud music provoked objections from a religious group nearby,’ he said. The verbal spat escalated into a rock-pelting melee, leaving both sides fuming.

A temporary truce held through Friday, but arson on a vehicle Saturday morning shattered the calm. ‘We had no choice but to impose curfew to avert a larger crisis,’ Bhusal stated.

Bolstering security, large contingents of regular and armed police now patrol hotspots. The CDO reported improved stability post-curfew: ‘Things are stabilizing now.’

Rautahat’s reputation as a poverty-stricken zone with deep-seated political and sectarian tensions adds context to the flare-up. As national elections approach on March 5, officials are on high alert against any politicization. ‘Suspicious movements are under strict surveillance,’ Bhusal warned.

The episode highlights the fragility of peace in Nepal’s Terai belt, where cultural processions often intersect with sensitive community dynamics. With security forces in place, hope persists for quick de-escalation ahead of the crucial vote.