Jagran Correspondent, Fulkaha (Araria): Following communal violence in Dewanganj-Kaptanganj in Nepal’s Sunsari district, security has been intensified along the India-Nepal border adjoining the Narpatganj block in Bihar’s Araria district.
The heightened security comes after one person was killed and several others, including security personnel, were injured in a communal clash in Nepal’s Sunsari district, which borders India. The violence prompted authorities to impose an indefinite prohibitory order in parts of the area from Monday.
Under the prohibitory order, gatherings of more than four people, demonstrations, public meetings, and sit-ins have been banned in the affected areas.
What happened?
According to police, the violence erupted on Sunday night in the Kaptanganj area of Dewanganj Rural Municipality when members of two religious communities, who were separately organising programmes, clashed over the use of loudspeakers and the display of religious flags, police said.
A verbal altercation between the two groups soon escalated into violence, prompting security personnel to intervene, PTI reported.
During efforts to bring the situation under control, security forces opened fire, killing 24-year-old Om Prakash Mehta.
More than a dozen people, including security personnel, were injured in the clashes.
The administration warned that anyone violating the prohibitory order could face a fine of NPR 500, imprisonment of up to one month, or both.
Security Tightened Across Districts
In view of the situation, District Magistrate Vinod Duhan and Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar on Monday visited several border villages, including Manikpur, Koshikapur, Ghurana, Basmatia, and Bela under the Phulkaha police station limits, where they held meetings with local residents.
During the meetings, the officials appealed to residents to maintain peace and communal harmony. The District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police urged people not to pay attention to rumours and advised them to immediately inform the local police, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), or the district administration if they came across any suspicious activity or untoward incident.
They also urged residents to rely only on official information issued by the administration rather than believing rumours. Officials informed the public that security arrangements along the border had been significantly strengthened.
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Bihar Police are conducting continuous patrols, while surveillance along the border has been intensified. The administration also appealed to the public to cooperate with the security agencies.
Meanwhile, additional Nepali security personnel have been deployed in the Dewanganj-Kaptanganj area of Sunsari district to maintain law and order. Security forces from both India and Nepal are closely monitoring the situation.
The meeting was attended by a large number of residents from the border villages, elected representatives, and officials from the SSB and the police.
The officials assured the public that the administration remains fully alert and that every necessary step is being taken to maintain peace and law and order in the border region.