Protests erupted in the Birgunj region of southern Nepal after a video with derogatory comments that hurt religious sentiments was allegedly posted on TikTok. Authorities from the Parsa district administration have now announced a curfew, which has been extended till Tuesday after demonstrations turned violent.
The tensions began after two men who were identified as Haider Ansari and Amanat Ansari from the Kamala Municipality of the Dhanusha district reposted a video that allegedly contained insulting remarks targeted at some religious communities. Both Birgunj and Dhanusha lie along the Nepal-India border.
Locals caught the two men and handed them over to the police, saying they hurt religious sentiments.
The tensions, however, did not end there.
In ward 6 of the Kamala Municipality, a mosque was found vandalised after the men were caught.
Protesters took to the streets against the act, and people staged rallies in and around Birgunj.
The protests initially started in Dhanusha and Parsa and escalated via TikTok. People staged rallies and burned tyres, and chanted slogans on Sunday. Police also had to use tear gas to disperse demonstrators, leaving some personnel injured.
According to the the curfew order, the restricted zones cover Bypass Road in the east, Sirsiya Bridge in the west, Powerhouse Chowk in the north, and Shankaracharya Gate in the south. Authorities said that they had to impose stricter prohibitory orders after the first one failed to contain both groups from rallying at multiple locations, the Kathmandu Post reported.
Under the curfew, all movement, assemblies, rallies, meetings, and public gatherings are prohibited. Residents have been instructed not to leave their residences except for emergency purposes, according to the notice.
