Nepal’s Parsa District Administration Office (DAO) has issued a prohibitory order banning all gatherings, meetings, processions and protests in Birgunj Metropolitan City after communal tension broke out in the region. The order took effect from 1:00 PM on Monday and will stay in place until further notice. Those who violate the ban will be taken into custody and dealt with according to the law, the notice said.

This move came after religious tensions and clashes erupted over a video posted on TikTok that was seen as hurting religious sentiments and sparked protests in Birgunj and other parts of Nepal’s Madhesh province over the weekend.

According to officials, the unrest began in Kamala Municipality of Dhanusha district, where a disagreement between two groups was triggered by religiously targeted comments in a video posted on TikTok. This led to protests and unrest spreading to Birgunj and Janakpur.

The controversy started when two young men, Haider Ansari and Amanat Ansari, posted the video in Janakpur. Local people said the video hurt religious feelings, and the youths were handed over to the police.

Acts of vandalism, including an incident where a mosque was damaged in Ward 6 of Kamala Municipality, made the situation worse. People from the local Muslim community then took to the streets in protest. They burned tyres and chanted slogans in and around Birgunj, showing their anger over the mosque attack and the video incident.

During one of these demonstrations, a brief clash happened between protesters and the police at Chhapkaiya Idgah Chowk in Birgunj. Officers fired five rounds of tear gas to control the crowd.

In response to the unrest, security has been tightened throughout all eight districts of the Madhesh province. A large number of police and security personnel have been deployed in areas where clashes might occur.

Local authorities also called on people to maintain peace and harmony. Bhola Dahal, Chief District Officer of Parsa, spoke to ANI and described how the situation unfolded. He said the Muslim community protested on the streets and burned tyres at two or three places. However, after discussions with community leaders and the protestors, “the situation is now under control and calm.”

Dahal also stressed the importance of avoiding social, religious, or cultural hostility among people. He said that the administration is watching activities that could cause social division on platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. Dahal stated, “Individuals involved in fomenting social, religious or cultural animosity among each other, affecting national unity, or spreading false rumours that harm the social reputation of communities are being closely monitored on social media platforms…”

He added, “It is requested that such activities be taken seriously and that everyone remains alert and cautious.”

Earlier reports also confirmed that the clashes in Birgunj resulted in injuries to several police personnel during the protests, which were part of the reason for the security alert in the region. Authorities appealed to residents to maintain social harmony and avoid actions that could further disrupt peace in the district.

The prohibitory order issued by the DAO under Section 6 (3A) of the Local Administration Act, 2028, covers multiple areas of Birgunj Metropolitan City and bans all types of public gatherings until the administration decides it is safe to lift the restrictions.

Officials remain on high alert, monitoring the situation closely as they work to restore and maintain peace in the city following the recent tensions.