New Delhi: Tension gripped Nepal’s Bara district as Gen-Z youth hit the streets in Simra on Thursday, forcing authorities to impose a curfew amid fears of escalating violence. Fresh protests erupted over alleged police inaction in arresting all accused in a previous day’s clash with ruling CPN-UML workers.
Hundreds of young activists gathered at Simra Chowk from 11 AM, demanding the arrest of six UML supporters named in a complaint filed after Wednesday’s violent confrontation that left six Gen-Z members injured. Police arrested only two – local ward chairmen Dhan Bahadur Shrestha and Kaimuddin Ansari – prompting accusations of bias.
As the crowd swelled, security forces swung into action, leading to the imposition of a curfew from 12:45 pm to 8 pm across the affected areas. Heavy deployments were seen at key intersections, with the administration keeping an eye on further unrest.
Gen-Z district coordinator Samrat Upadhyay accused authorities of shielding influential UML leaders, saying partial arrests were unacceptable. Wednesday’s clashes disrupted normal life, including a brief halt in flights at nearby Simara airport after tear gas shells were fired.
With political temperatures rising in the Terai region, this episode highlights growing frustration among Nepal’s youth against perceived partisanship in law enforcement.