Communal tension escalated in parts of Nepal after a dispute during a wedding procession turned violent in Madhesh Province’s Rautahat district.

The incident took place on Friday night in Gaur Municipality, located near the Indo-Nepal border adjacent to Sitamarhi district. According to officials, an argument over loud DJ sound during a wedding procession escalated into stone-pelting between members of two communities.

By Saturday morning, protests intensified, and demonstrators allegedly set a police vehicle on fire, worsening the law-and-order situation. In response, the district administration imposed an indefinite curfew in affected rural areas from 1 pm to prevent further violence.

Security has been significantly tightened with increased police patrols and deployment of additional forces. The Nepal Army has also been mobilised as a precautionary measure.

Police have detained around 20 people, including the suspected main planner, and investigations are ongoing. The unrest comes just days before the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, prompting authorities to appeal for calm and cooperation to restore normalcy.