August 10, Janakpurdham – Following a religious dispute in Kaptanganj, Sunsari, tensions in Madhesh Province have somewhat subsided. After talks between the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Sudhan Gurung and the Joint Hindu Front on August 1 and 2, the conflict deescalated, aiding peace restoration in Madhesh.
However, details regarding the shooting incident that led to the deaths of four civilians remain unclear. Treatment of the injured individuals is ongoing.
There is significant concern over the economic and material losses caused by arson and vandalism. Questions about compensation for damages to shops and homes have arisen.
Although the full incident details have not been made public, considerable damage to public and private property occurred during protests in Siraha and Dhanusha districts of Madhesh Province, with Golbazar in Siraha suffering the most loss.
Provincial police records indicate substantial damage to public and private assets in Lahan, Janakpurdham, and Sabaila during the religious conflict period.
On August 1, 16-year-old Ganesh Yadav was fatally shot in Golbazar, Siraha. He was a student at Yadav Campus in Aurahi Rural Municipality-2, and the provincial police reported that he was shot in the neck near the campus gate.
During the clashes, 19-year-old Subas Thakur of Mithila Bihari Municipality was injured and is currently receiving treatment.
Similarly, in Dhanusha, Anand Das from Buspark, Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City-7 sustained serious injuries from stone impacts. He is currently undergoing treatment at a trauma center in Kathmandu.
38 Security Personnel Injured, 142 Tear Gas Canisters Used, 15 Rounds of Gunfire Fired
During the clashes, 38 security personnel were injured by stones thrown by protesters. In Siraha, among the injured were two Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) officers and 15 police personnel.
According to the Provincial Police Office records, among those injured were DSP Ramesh Bahadur Pal of Siraha District Police Office and DSP Bishnu Pradip Basyal, chief of Lahan Police Station. In Dhanusha, 23 police officers were injured and their condition is stable.
Approximately 30 to 35 canisters of tear gas were used to control protests in Dhanusha. According to Madhusudan Nyaupane, the police deployed tear gas in phases.
In total, across Madhesh Province, the police fired 142 tear gas canisters and 15 rounds of live fire to control the violence, including 10 blank rounds and 5 pistol bullets.
Extensive Damage to 53 Houses and Shops Across the Province
The Golbazar area of Siraha experienced significant damage to numerous homes and shops due to arson and vandalism.
Sabir Khan’s Nehal Iron Stores suffered approximately 250 million Nepalese Rupees in losses due to arson.
Victims report that a fire at AB Mall destroyed capital assets worth around 220 million Rupees.
Additional property damage worth 50 million Rupees occurred at New Aslam Cloth Store and Alia Enterprises located at Old Chowk, Municipality-8, Golbazar. The Nawsad Motor Parts and Workshop in Golbazar Municipality-6 also faced arson and vandalism.
Sohev Anwar, ward chairperson of Golbazar Municipality-11, reported approximate losses of 6 million Rupees due to arson and destruction at his residence. Damages worth around 300,000 Rupees occurred at Royal Prince Hotel and Party Palace in Municipality-4, Golbazar, due to vandalism.
In Golbazar alone, 13 houses were vandalized with stones, and over half a dozen shops were set on fire.
Altogether, around 46 houses and shops were damaged or burnt in Golbazar and Lahan, with losses amounting to millions of Nepalese Rupees.
In Dhanusha, five shops were vandalized, and mosques and madrasas in Sarlahi and Saptari districts also sustained damage.
Seventeen Vehicles Damaged in Siraha and Dhanusha
Provincial police data shows that 17 vehicles were damaged in Siraha and Dhanusha.
In Lahan, Siraha, four vehicles were vandalized, while in Dhanusha, one bus and four other vehicles were damaged.
In Golbazar, five vehicles were vandalized and numerous motorcycles were set on fire, according to provincial police sources.
Overall, 53 houses, shops, and public properties were severely damaged by arson and vandalism across various locations in Madhesh Province.
71 Arrested Amid Clashes
To curb vandalism during the protests and to prevent the spread of hatred and incitement on social media, authorities arrested 71 individuals. The highest number, 42, were detained in Dhanusha, followed by 13 in Sarlahi, 7 in Parsa, 5 in Siraha, and 1 in Mahottari.
