PM Shah and President Poudel urge calm after deadly unrest in Madhesh

Kathmandu / July 30: Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Thursday appealed for calm after deadly unrest in different districts of Madhesh province left three people dead, saying the government would ensure a transparent investigation into the recent violence and hold those responsible accountable.

In a televised address to the nation, Shah said the government was treating the incidents in Sunsari’s Dewanganj and parts of Siraha with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity.

Shah said the government had instructed health authorities to ensure prompt treatment for those injured.

He said the home ministry had already formed an investigation committee to examine the incidents and promised that the inquiry would be impartial and transparent. Security forces have been deployed to prevent further violence and restore normalcy, he added.

The prime minister said the home minister had travelled to the affected areas to oversee the security situation, while the National Security Council had reviewed the unrest and taken necessary decisions. He added that an all-party meeting had been convened in Kathmandu and that dialogue was continuing to ease tensions.

Shah urged the public not to spread rumours, misinformation or hate speech through social media or other platforms, asking people to rely only on information released by official government agencies.

Shah also warned that the government would take strict action against anyone attempting to disrupt public order, incite unrest or undermine Nepal’s long-standing social harmony.

He appealed to citizens, civil society, religious leaders, political parties and the media to exercise restraint and work together to maintain peace, communal harmony and national unity.

President Paudel’s appeal to maintain mutual harmony, national unity

President Ramchandra Paudel has expressed worry over the recent adverse situation surfaced in different places, including Kaptangunj of Sunsari district. He made a public appeal, urging everyone to keep intact social, religious and ethnic harmony, tolerance, reconciliation, fraternity and national unity.

In the appeal, President Paudel reminded that social, religious and ethnic goodwill, tolerance, reconciliation and fraternity are Nepal’s identity and tradition. “These assets must be kept intact to foster national unity. I urge all political parties, civil society and the Nepali sisters and brothers to contribute to maintain peace, law and order and stability, thereby keeping the national unity intact,” President Paudel stated in the appeal.

He believed that government would take every effort required to restore peace, stabilize the adverse situation and return normalcy. “In this critical time, I heartily appeal to all to work actively for unity in community, mutual trust, fraternity and tolerance,” the President stressed.

The President also made aware all concerned to conduct a probe into the incident and take action so that no such incident would happen again. President Paudel also paid tribute to those losing lives in the clashes and extended condolences to the bereaved family members. Speedy recovery to the injured ones has been wished by the Head of State. (RSS)