Tension persisted for a second day on Thursday in Nepal’s Bara district, which borders the Indian state of Bihar, as youths identifying themselves as Gen Zers returned to the streets following clashes with CPN-UML cadres a day earlier.
Crowds gathered again in Simara from early morning, confronting police and prompting authorities to impose a curfew from 1 pm to 8 pm (local time). “Curfew has been reimposed following the clash with the police to bring the situation under control,” Assistant Chief District Officer Chhabiraman Subedi told ANI.
As per the local media reports, Nepal’s Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, has appealed for calm, urging all parties to “refrain from unwanted political provocation” and to trust the democratic process ahead of elections scheduled for 5 March 2026.
“I have directed the Home Administration and security agencies to work with utmost restraint and preparation to maintain peace and order,” Karki said in a statement issued late on Wednesday.
She added that her aim was to “ensure the safe movement of leaders of all political parties and create a fair and fear-free environment for the elections.”
On Wednesday, Karki also met with representatives from more than 110 parties. “We want this country to be in the hands of a new generation and to be managed by people with vision,” she told the gathering.
The demonstrators accused police of failing to arrest individuals named in their complaint regarding Wednesday’s violence. On 19 November, six Gen-Z supporters were injured, and the group filed a case against six UML cadres after a confrontation at Simara Chowk, near Simara Airport.
Police on Wednesday detained Ward Chair Dhan Bahadur Shrestha of Ward 2, Jeetpursimara Sub-Metropolitan City, and Ward Chair Kaimudin Ansari of Ward 6 in connection with the unrest. Officers also fired tear-gas canisters after tensions escalated near Simara Airport, forcing the airport to suspend operations.
Unrest began on Wednesday after UML (Unified Marxist Leninist) leaders planned to visit the district ahead of elections scheduled for 5 March 2026. Experts have raised concerns over security arrangements, noting that hundreds of inmates remain at large and a similar number of weapons are unaccounted for after being looted during the September uprising.
Nepal remains in political transition following the regime change in September, when nationwide protests forced then-Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Oli to step down. The two-day unrest left 76 people dead across the country.
A new government was sworn in on 12 September under former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, who immediately recommended dissolving parliament and calling fresh elections. President Ram Chandra Paudel subsequently dissolved parliament and scheduled elections for 5 March 2026.
