Prime Minister Balendra Shah addresses nation, urges calm and unity after unrest

Kathmandu – Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Thursday addressed the nation following recent violent incidents in the eastern districts of Sunsari and Siraha, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and calling for calm, social harmony and national unity.

In his televised address, Shah said the government was treating the incidents and the subsequent unrest in several districts with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity.

He paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the violence — Jayaprakash Mehta, Omprakash Mehta and Ganesh Yadav — and extended condolences to their bereaved families on behalf of the government.

The prime minister wished a speedy recovery to those injured and said authorities had been instructed to ensure timely and adequate medical treatment without delay.

Shah said security agencies had been deployed immediately after the incidents to restore normalcy, prevent further violence and maintain law and order. He added that the Ministry of Home Affairs had formed an investigation committee to conduct an impartial and transparent inquiry, pledging that all those responsible, regardless of their status, would be brought to justice in accordance with the law.

The government has also intensified efforts to prevent further escalation, protect lives and property, and rebuild public confidence, he said. Shah noted that an all-party meeting had been convened at the central level, while continuous dialogue was underway with local representatives, civil society members, religious leaders and community representatives.

He said the home minister, accompanied by senior security officials, had traveled to the affected areas to monitor the situation, meet victims and strengthen security measures. The National Security Council had also reviewed the overall security situation and taken necessary decisions, he added.

Calling on the public to remain vigilant, Shah urged citizens not to spread rumors, unverified information, hate speech or content that could inflame tensions among communities through social media or other platforms. He encouraged the public to rely only on official information released by government authorities.

The prime minister said safeguarding the lives and property of citizens, preserving social harmony and maintaining peace remained the government’s highest priority. He warned that the government would take strict action against any activities that disrupt public order or undermine Nepal’s long-standing traditions of tolerance, coexistence and fraternity.

Shah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the constitutional right of every citizen to practice their own religion, culture and traditions.

“Religion is a force that unites society and spreads love. No religion or culture teaches violence, hatred or division. Compassion, kindness, love and peace are the shared essence of all faiths,” he said.

The prime minister also stressed that it was unjustifiable to hold an entire community responsible for an isolated incident or to spread retaliatory violence to other parts of the country.

Concluding his address, Shah appealed to citizens, civil society, religious communities, political parties and the media to exercise patience, restraint and responsibility in safeguarding peace, social harmony, brotherhood and national unity.