SUNSARI: In a major administrative shake-up, the government has replaced top provincial and district security officials in Sunsari, sending in Ishwari Prasad Aryal the new Chief District Officer, DIG Shekhar Khanal to lead Koshi Province Police, SP Pushpa Raj Malla for Sunsari Police, and SP Laba Kumar Sapkota alongside DSP Madan Nath for the Armed Police Force following violent communal clashes that left one person dead and nearly 30 others injured.

Koshi Province Police Chief DIG Binod Ghimire, Sunsari Chief District Officer (CDO) Basudev Ghimire, District Police Chief SP Keshav Thebe, APF SP Shyam Kumar Karki, and local APF DSP Nanda Kishor Mahato were all recalled by the Home Ministry.

The severe measures follow clashes in Kaptaanganj where disputes over temple music and religious flags spiraled into arson and mob violence.

Security personnel opened fire to quell the riots, resulting in the death of local resident Omprakash Mehta.

Twenty security personnel and nine civilians sustained injuries.

To prevent further unrest, the newly appointed administration has clamped an indefinite curfew across sensitive areas in Dewanganj and Harinagar.

Meanwhile, a five-member Ministry of Home Affairs panel led by Joint Secretary Bhupendra Thapa has begun a seven-day investigation into the incident.