# Nepal PM breaks silence as communal clashes kill three, curfews spread 2026-08-08T11:44:47+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Thursday finally addressed the nation after three days of communal violence in the southern plains left three dead and curfews imposed across five districts. The unrest began on Sunday night in Sunsari district after a dispute between Hindu and Muslim groups over religious celebrations. Two died in police firing, and a third protester was killed in Siraha. Shah urged restraint and deployed the army, but observers criticised his delayed response and reliance on social media. Muslims are about 5% of Nepal’s population but concentrated in the affected southeastern districts, where communities have largely coexisted peacefully for decades. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: Balendra Shah, communal violence, curfew, Hindu-Muslim clashes, Madhesh province, Nepal Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/nepal-pm-breaks-silence-as-communal-clashes-kill-three-curfews-spread/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/nepal-pm-breaks-silence-as-communal-clashes-kill-three-curfews-spread/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.