Nepal is facing fresh tension as new clashes broke out between young protesters and supporters of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) in Bara district on Thursday. The district administration has now reimposed a curfew to bring the situation under control.

Officials in Bara said the curfew will stay in place until 8 pm on Thursday. They said the step was needed because fights between Gen Z protesters and UML cadres had returned, creating safety concerns.

The unrest has been ongoing for days, and the latest clashes have added to the political crisis Nepal has been dealing with since the fall of the KP Sharma Oli government.

The trouble began earlier this week when young protesters, who have been active in many recent political movements, came face to face with UML supporters. Arguments quickly turned into clashes.

Police have now been placed in important areas of Bara to stop more violence.

According to police, the violence grew worse after an incident at Kathmandu airport.
A Buddha Air flight carrying UML general secretary Shankar Pokharel and youth leader Mahesh Basnet was preparing to fly to Simara, where they were scheduled to speak at a political rally.

When young protesters heard about their travel plans, many gathered at the airport to block their arrival. This led to a clash with UML supporters present there.

Following the chaos, Buddha Air cancelled all flights from Kathmandu to Simara for the day, including the one carrying the two leaders. Both returned home afterward.

The UML has been organising protests across Nepal, demanding that the House of Representatives be restored. It was dissolved on September 12 after a strong Gen Z-led movement that pushed out the Oli government.

Young activists have also been demanding answers about the alleged killing of protesters on September 9. These protests were held against corruption and a plan made by the previous government to impose restrictions on social media.

The situation remains tense in several areas as police continue efforts to maintain order.