Uproar over immersion of Saraswati idol in Birgunj adjacent to India in Nepal, heavy violence between Hindus and Muslims, curfew imposed

There has been a huge uproar between Hindus and Muslims regarding the immersion of the idol of Goddess Saraswati in Birgunj city of Nepal, adjacent to India. The government of Nepal has imposed indefinite curfew in Birgunj from Monday evening. It is being told that there was a dispute between Hindus and Muslims in Rautahat regarding the immersion of the idol of Goddess Saraswati. After this violence broke out. The district administration has imposed curfew in the entire city to prevent violence from breaking out. This curfew has been imposed at Nagwa Chowk, Tilabe Bridge, Parbanipur Parsa and Maitri Pul. The situation is very tense in the entire area.

1000 personnel of Nepal Police and Army have been deployed to ensure security. The administration has said that this curfew will continue till further orders. It is being told that the idol of Goddess Saraswati was to be immersed in a local lake and during this time a dispute broke out between the Hindu side and the Muslim side and violence broke out. The district administration has said that anyone has been barred from gathering, holding meetings, taking out rallies or walking on the streets.

Controversy over idol immersion in Nepal

The idol was immersed amid tight security arrangements on Monday. It is being told that after the Birgunj violence, the idol of Goddess Saraswati remained lying on the road for 3 days. After this the idol was immersed amidst heavy police force. Meanwhile, many political parties, MPs and senior security officials have come into action to calm the dispute. Many top officials including Nepal Police DIG Yagya Vinod Pokharel are camping in Birgunj for the last two days so that the situation can be brought under control.

Rautahat Chief District Officer Hiralal Regmi said that after the meeting of all the parties, immersion of the idol of Goddess Saraswati has become possible. An agreement regarding this was reached on Monday. According to the report of Kathmandu Post, when the Hindus were taking out the Visarjan Yatra to immerse the idol, at the same time the other side alleged that there was excessive noise. There have been reports of many controversies regarding idol immersion in the Terai region of Nepal. Because of this the government has had to impose curfew several times.