Curfew Reimposed in Barahathawa

The local administration has once again imposed a curfew in the Barahathawa market area after protests intensified on Sunday over the demand for a hospital upgrade and compensation. Sarlahi Chief District Officer Komal Prasad Dhamala, in an official notice, announced the curfew from 12:45 pm on Sunday until 8 am on Monday, citing potential risks of vandalism, disruption of law and order, arson, and riots.

The tension in Barahathawa has been building for the past few days, reaching a critical point on Friday when a violent clash between police and protesters led to the tragic death of 29-year-old Jaya Shankar Sah. In response to the unrest, a curfew was immediately imposed.

Despite the curfew, protests persisted on Saturday, prompting the district administration office to enforce a 24-hour prohibitory order in the market area.

The root cause of the protests traces back to Barahathawa Municipality’s decision to upgrade a 15-bed municipal hospital. The municipality’s executive committee, in a meeting on September 26, 2023, had resolved to elevate the municipal hospital to a 50-bed health institution and transfer its management to the provincial government of Madhesh. However, the municipality reversed its decision on January 2, leading to the resurgence of protests.

As the situation remains tense, local authorities are working to address the grievances of the protesters and restore order in Barahathawa.