Nepal: At least three people have been killed during violent clashes in southern Nepal, where local Muslim and Hindu groups have clashed since Sunday, threatening public security, as the Himalayan nation continues to recover from last year's mass protests. The communal protests began on Sunday night, officials from violence-affected areas told Anadolu.

According to Anadolu Agency, the violence prompted President Ramchandra Paudel to appeal for peace, urging political parties, civil society, and citizens to maintain social unity, communal harmony, friendship, and tolerance. A curfew was imposed in most parts of southern Nepal after angry mobs began to attack each other and burn government offices, shopping malls, and police posts.

The violence first erupted in the Sunsari district following a dispute during celebrations by two religious communities that escalated. In response, hundreds of security forces, including the army, were deployed to contain the situation. Police opened fire at protesters, resulting in the death of a farmer, Om Prakash Mehata, and injuries to many locals, including Jaya Prakash Mehata, who later died at the hospital.

Following these incidents, Hindu groups staged protests in Sunsari and other districts, leading to curfews in Sunsari, Sarlahi, Parsa, and Janakpur districts. A third death was reported in Siraha after a person was shot on Thursday. Chatraj Baral, a district administrator, reported that Ganesh Yadav, a local from Aaurahi, died from the violence.

Nepal, declared a secular state in 2008, has largely avoided major religious tensions since then. However, the recent outbreak of violence has raised public fears, echoing the unrest from September last year when over 70 people were killed during protests demanding political change and an end to corruption.