Curfew reimposed in Nepal’s Bara district after fresh Gen Z–UML clashes leave at least 10 injured

Fresh tension gripped Nepal’s Bara district on Thursday as clashes broke out between Gen Z protesters and cadres of the CPN-UML, the party of former prime minister K P Sharma Oli. At least 10 people were injured in the renewed violence, prompting authorities to reimpose curfew in the troubled Simara Chowk area bordering India. The unrest escalated after youths returned to the streets demanding action against individuals named in their complaint over Wednesday’s clashes.

According to local administration, protesters gathered in large numbers from late morning despite the curfew order issued between 1 pm and 8 pm. Demonstrators reportedly defied restrictions, leading to stone-pelting and confrontations with security forces. Police responded with six tear gas shells and two rounds of aerial fire as tensions spiralled. Six police personnel and four Gen Z protesters were injured in the confrontation.

The situation further deteriorated when demonstrators set fire to a police beat in Simara Bazaar. Items from the CPN-UML office were also removed and torched by protesters, who accused police of hesitating to arrest party cadres involved in earlier assaults. The clashes first erupted on Wednesday after news spread that senior UML leaders, including general secretary Shankar Pokharel and youth leader Mahesh Basnet, were travelling to Simara to address an anti-government rally, triggering resistance from Gen Z activists.

Authorities have since arrested two UML ward chairpersons, Dhan Bahadur Shrestha and Kaimoddin Ansari, on charges of assaulting Gen Z youths. The renewed turmoil comes amid ongoing protests acr