ITAHARI, July 28: The situation in Dewangunj, Sunsari, appeared calmer on Tuesday morning after violence triggered by a clash between two groups of youths, although authorities have kept the curfew in place and security forces remain on high alert.
The area had remained tense throughout Monday after a young man was killed in police firing on Sunday night. Although the local administration imposed a curfew from 7 am on Monday to prevent further unrest, protesters defied the order and staged demonstrations in Dewangunj as well as in Inaruwa, Laukahi and Bhokraha Narsingh, keeping tensions high.
As fears grew that the violence could escalate, the District Security Committee decided to deploy the Nepal Army. Police said security arrangements remain in place across Dewangunj, Harinagar, Inaruwa, Koshi and Bhokraha Narsingh, where fresh violence could erupt at any time.
Second victim dies from injuries in Sunsari Dewangunj shooting
No protesters had taken to the streets as of Tuesday morning. However, Sunsari Police Chief SP Keshav Thebe said security personnel have been kept on high alert as the situation could deteriorate later in the day.
"Although the situation is calm this morning, Monday's events suggest tensions could rise again in the afternoon," he said.
Police Inspector Prakash Parajuli, who is stationed in Dewangunj, said the situation had improved but warned that it was too early to be complacent, as further disturbances remained possible.
SP Thebe said traffic along the East West Highway, from the Koshi Barrage to Inaruwa, had resumed smoothly. Demonstrations at several points along the highway on Monday had disrupted transport following the Dewangunj incident.
Twenty-five-year-old Om Prakash Mehta of Dewangunj Rural Municipality Ward No. 4 was killed after being struck by a police bullet during Sunday's violence. At least 21 others were injured, including two who remain in critical condition.
In the aftermath of the incident, the government recalled Sunsari Chief District Officer Basudev Ghimire to the Ministry of Home Affairs and replaced him with Ishwari Prasad Aryal, the Chief District Officer of Sankhuwasabha, who arrived in Sunsari on Monday night.
The government also recalled Koshi Province Police Chief Deputy Inspector General Binod Ghimire, Sunsari Police Chief SP Keshav Thebe and Armed Police Force DSP Nandakishor Mahato, who had been serving in Kaptanganj.
DIG Shekhar Khanal from Nepal Police Headquarters has been appointed as the new chief of the Koshi Province Police Office. SP Pushparaj Malla, who was serving at Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, has been transferred to Sunsari, while APF DSP Madan Nath from the APF Headquarters in Kathmandu has been assigned to Kaptanganj.
According to officials, both DIG Binod Ghimire and SP Thebe had been on leave for several days before the incident. SP Thebe returned to duty on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a five-member investigation committee led by Joint Secretary Bhupendra Thapa to examine the incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report within a week.
