A violent clash erupted between Hindu and Muslim communities in Sabgadha village of Rautahat district in Nepal, after Muslims objected to playing traditional music at a wedding procession near a mosque.
The incident began late Thursday night (February 19, 2026) when the Hindu wedding procession accompanied by DJ music passed near a local mosque. At the time, members of the Muslim community were performing evening prayers in the mosque. The Muslims came out and objected to the music claiming it disturbed the prayers, leading to a verbal dispute between the two groups.
The argument escalated quickly, with some individuals from the Muslim community assaulting members of the DJ team in the wedding procession. This confrontation resulted in heightened tensions in the area.
By Friday morning (February 20, 2026), the dispute reignited, resulting in stone-pelting and brick-hurling exchanges between the two communities. The situation turned chaotic, and the situation in the village turned tense and volatile.
Police and security forces responded swiftly to restore order. Authorities deployed more than 250 personnel, including officers from Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, and the Nepali Army. Dozens of rounds of tear gas shells were fired to disperse the clashing groups and bring the situation under control. Senior officers, including Nepal Police Superintendent Sitaram Rijal and Armed Police Force Superintendent Ramhari Adhikari, arrived at the scene to oversee operations.
Rautahat Chief District Officer Dinesh Sagar Bhusal confirmed the incident, describing it as unfortunate and disruptive to social harmony. “It is unfortunate that such incidents disrupt social harmony. The situation is under control, and we are facilitating dialogue between the two communities to resolve the issue,” Bhusal stated. He added that efforts are underway to persuade both sides and normalize the situation through bilateral talks.
The local administration has appealed to residents to maintain peace and security while an investigation into the clash continues. As of Friday afternoon, the area remained under close monitoring by security forces to prevent any further escalation, though the overall situation remained tense but controlled.
