Tensions escalated in Nepal’s Dhanusha district after a dispute between two groups in Kamala Municipality led to vandalism and protests that later spread to Birgunj, according to police officials.
The incident began in Ward 6 of Kamala Municipality after a TikTok video containing religiously sensitive remarks circulated online. Authorities said the situation deteriorated after a mosque was vandalised, prompting protests in Birgunj on Sunday morning.
Demonstrators gathered in and around Birgunj, where tyres were set on fire and slogans were chanted. A brief confrontation occurred between protesters and police at Chhapkaiya Idgah Chowk, during which police deployed five rounds of tear gas to disperse the crowd and restore order.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Raju Karki, spokesperson for the District Police Office in Parsa, said seven police personnel sustained minor injuries during the incident. He stated that police used minimum force and focused on clearing the area and extinguishing burning tyres. Authorities reported that the situation had returned to normal by around 12:30 p.m.
In Dhanusha, police detained three individuals in connection with the TikTok video and the alleged vandalism, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Ganesh Bam, spokesperson for the Dhanusha District Police Office. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
