A curfew has been imposed in Birgunj, a key border city in southern Nepal, following protests between Hindu and Muslim groups after a mosque was vandalised over the weekend, officials said on Tuesday.
The Parsa District Administration issued orders banning all gatherings and demonstrations, warning that violators could be shot by security forces. Armed soldiers and police officers are patrolling the streets of Birgunj, located 130 kilometres south of the capital Kathmandu.
Muslim groups began protesting on Sunday against the vandalism of a mosque in a nearby town, which was followed by a separate demonstration by Hindu groups the same day. Protests have continued since, though no major clashes or injuries have been reported, only scuffles with riot police.
Clashes between Hindus and Muslims are rare in predominantly Hindu Nepal, where the Muslim population is mostly concentrated in southern border regions.
