Birgunj, January 6– Authorities in Nepal’s southern border city of Birgunj have extended a curfew until 1:00 PM on Tuesday (January 6) following escalating communal tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities. The unrest, which began over the weekend, stems from a chain of provocative incidents involving social media and religious sites, threatening social harmony in the Madhesh region.

Background of the Incident

The tensions originated in Dhanusha district (Kamala Municipality-6, Sakhuwa Madan area) on Saturday, January 3, when an unidentified group vandalized a local mosque in a Muslim neighborhood and burned a copy of the Quran. Police investigations revealed this was in retaliation to a TikTok video posted by two Muslim youths containing alleged anti-Hindu remarks, perceived as offensive to the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan (though the festival is typically in August, the video’s content was seen as derogatory toward Hindu traditions).

The two youths responsible for the TikTok video and one individual involved in the mosque vandalism have been arrested, with police extending their custody for further investigation under Nepal’s criminal code related to religious offenses.

The mosque incident quickly spread via social media, sparking outrage in nearby Birgunj (Parsa district), a major trading hub bordering India’s Raxaul. Starting Sunday, January 4, members of the Muslim community protested by burning tires and blocking roads at key locations like Ghantaghar, Murli, and Chhapkaiya’s Idgah Chowk.

On Monday, Hindu groups responded with a motorcycle rally, claiming the earlier protests included anti-Hindu slogans. This led to clashes, stone-pelting, and minor injuries, prompting police to use tear gas and detain around two dozen people.

Curfew Details

To prevent further escalation, the Parsa District Administration Office (Chief District Officer Bhola Dahal) imposed and extended the curfew in sensitive areas of Birgunj Metropolitan City:

• Initial Order: From Monday evening (6:00 PM, January 5) to Tuesday morning (8:00 AM, January 6).
• Extension: Further extended until 1:00 PM on Tuesday (January 6).

Restricted Area Boundaries:

• East: Bypass Road
• West: Sirsiya Bridge
• North: Power House Chowk
• South: Shankaracharya Gate

Prohibited activities include gatherings, assemblies, processions, protests, or demonstrations. Violators face immediate arrest and strict legal action.

The administration has urged residents to maintain peace and social harmony, with heightened security deployments across the region.

Impact and Response

• Protests have disrupted daily life in Birgunj, a key commercial center near the India-Nepal border.
• Local bodies and authorities have appealed for calm, emphasizing Nepal’s tradition of religious tolerance.
• Police have increased patrols in Madhesh province to prevent spillover.

This rare communal flare-up in Nepal highlights the risks of social media misinformation amplifying religious sensitivities. As of January 6, the situation remains tense but under control, with no major injuries reported. Authorities continue monitoring and investigating to restore normalcy.

Chain of Events Leading to the Crisis

The incident began on Saturday, January 3, in Dhanusha district’s Kamala Municipality-6 (Sakhuwa Madan), where an unidentified group vandalized a mosque in a Muslim locality and burned a copy of the Quran. This act was reportedly in retaliation to a TikTok video posted by two local Muslim youths, which contained content perceived as derogatory toward Hindu religious sentiments (linked to references mocking the Raksha Bandhan festival or Hindu traditions).

The video and vandalism footage spread rapidly on social media, inflaming passions. Starting Sunday, January 4, Muslim community members in Birgunj protested by burning tires and blocking roads at locations including Ghantaghar, Murli, and Chhapkaiya’s Idgah Chowk.

On Monday, January 5, Hindu groups organized a motorcycle rally in response, alleging anti-Hindu slogans during the protests. This escalated into stone-pelting and minor clashes, prompting police intervention with tear gas.

Police have arrested the two youths behind the TikTok video and at least one person linked to the mosque vandalism. Investigations continue under provisions related to religious harmony and criminal offenses.

Curfew Imposition and Security Measures

To restore order, Parsa District Administration Office (Chief District Officer Bhola Dahal) initially imposed curfew from Monday evening (6:00 PM) to Tuesday morning (8:00 AM), later extending it to 1:00 PM.

Curfew Boundaries in Birgunj Metropolitan City:

• East: Bypass Road
• West: Sirsiya Bridge
• North: Power House Chowk
• South: Shankaracharya Gate

All gatherings, rallies, processions, and protests are banned. Violators will face immediate arrest and strict action.

Security forces have been heavily deployed, with no major violence reported since the curfew.

Broader Implications

Birgunj, a vital trade hub on the India-Nepal border, has seen disruptions in daily activities and commerce. Local leaders from both communities have appealed for calm, emphasizing Nepal’s long-standing tradition of religious tolerance.

This incident underscores the dangers of social media in amplifying religious sensitivities, especially in diverse regions like Madhesh. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely to prevent further escalation.

As of January 6 afternoon, the curfew remains in effect, with efforts underway to normalize the situation through dialogue.

Role of Social Media in the Birgunj Communal Unrest

Social media, particularly TikTok, played a central and catalyzing role in sparking and escalating the communal tensions in Birgunj, Nepal, in early January 2026. The incident highlights how platforms can rapidly amplify religious sensitivities, spread misinformation, and mobilize protests, leading to real-world violence and curfews.

How the Unrest Began: The Trigger on TikTok

The chain of events started with a TikTok video posted by two Muslim youths (identified as Haider Ansari and Amanat Ansari) from Janakpur in Dhanusha district. The video contained remarks perceived as offensive to Hindu religious sentiments, allegedly mocking traditions associated with festivals like Raksha Bandhan or general Hindu practices.

Tensions flare in Dhanusha after dispute between groups, protests …

This video quickly went viral, hurting religious sentiments among local Hindus. In retaliation, an unidentified group vandalized a mosque in Dhanusha’s Kamala Municipality-6 (Sakhuwa Madan) on January 3, burning a copy of the Quran.

Videos and photos of the mosque vandalism were then shared widely on social media, further inflaming passions among the Muslim community.

Amplification and Mobilization

• Rapid Spread: The initial TikTok video and subsequent footage of the vandalism circulated on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, reaching Birgunj (a major city in neighboring Parsa district) within hours.
• Protests Organized: Starting January 4, Muslim community members in Birgunj protested by burning tires and blocking roads at key spots (e.g., Ghantaghar, Murli, Chhapkaiya Idgah Chowk). These actions were coordinated and amplified through social media shares.
• Counter-Protests: Hindu groups responded with rallies, leading to clashes, stone-pelting, and police use of tear gas on January 5.

Social media acted as a double-edged sword: It enabled quick mobilization but also spread unverified rumors and inflammatory content, escalating a local dispute into province-wide tensions.

Authorities’ Response to Social Media

• Monitoring and Surveillance: The district administration announced close monitoring of social media accounts (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram) for content fomenting religious or cultural animosity, false rumors, or threats to national unity.
• Arrests: Police arrested the two youths behind the original TikTok video and at least one person involved in the vandalism.
• Calls for Restraint: Officials urged citizens to avoid sharing provocative content, emphasizing that social media misinformation was a key driver of the unrest.

Broader Implications

This incident underscores the perils of social media in religiously diverse societies like Nepal’s Madhesh region:

• Positive Role — None prominent here; platforms were used mainly for outrage rather than dialogue.
• Negative Role — Rapid virality turned a single video into vandalism, protests, clashes, and a curfew, disrupting life in a key border city.
• Comparison to Larger Events — Similar to how social media fueled the 2025 Gen Z protests in Nepal (against corruption and bans), but here it highlighted communal risks.

Authorities restored calm by January 6, but the event serves as a warning about regulating inflammatory content on platforms like TikTok to prevent future unrest.