KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 24

Denizens of Malangawa are terrified after their houses were vandalised.

Following gruesome attacks with knives, daggers and swords, innocent people have been admitted to hospitals.

'Curfew has been imposed for the past four days and 10 to 12 people have been severely injured,' Bikesh Sharma told THT.

Twenty-four-year-old Rupesh Yadav, son of Pramod Yadav, residing in Musaili of Malangawa Municipality was brutally attacked with a dagger multiple times during immersion of an idol of Lord Ganesh. 'Yadav has been admitted to Nepal Mediciti Vayodha Hospital, Birgunj. Doctors say he is not out of danger.

Malangwa Municipality has seen frequent curfews. Many people have complained about increasing attacks in video posted by Malangawa Sarlahi Facebook page. People are living in fear.

At night, people from Muslim community walk with bamboo sticks, swords and other weapons.

'Last night a huge number of Muslims marched in our gully. They struck the doors of houses with sharp objects,' said a woman in the video.

However, District Police Office, Sarlahi informed that the situation was under control. 'The situation is normal. Don't believe the video uploaded on Facebook,' SP Naresh Raj Subedi told THT.

People are not allowed to roam outside due to the curfew. A large number of security personnel have been deployed. Last night, a house was set on fire by the Mus-lim community, said locals.

Bikesh Sharma told THT, 'Fear has gripped the people of Malangawa.

They are too scared to say anything.' Sharma further said, 'Police did nothing when a house was set ablaze last night.'

Sharma said 30 rounds of tear gas were fired at Gamahariya of Malangawa Municipality and seven rounds at Malangawa Municipality-2.

Talking to THT, ward 2 chairperson of Malangawa Municipality Dhirendra Shah said, 'The curfew has been tightened and people have been prohibited from going outside. Police are charging and putting people behind bars to bring the situation under control.'

On the night of September 21, District Administration Office, Sarlahi, issued a notice stating that there was possible risk to the safety of the general public due to vandalism of public property, stone pelting, unpleasant activities and other protests in Old Malangwa Municipality area after conflict erupted during the immersion of the idol of Lord Ganesha.

'In the city (Jhim River in the east, Musaili Canal in the west, Nepal-India border area in the south and Police Post/Baba Petrol Pump in the north) within the border area, no one is allowed to move around, or gather,' reads the order issued by CDO Indradev Yadav. 'A curfew order has been issued in accordance with section 6 (a) (1) (3) of the Local Administration Act, 1971 from 10:00pm on September 4 until further order or arrangement.

Violators of this order may be prosecuted according to the law by using force as necessary.'

A version of this article appears in the print on September 25, 2023, of The Himalayan Times