- Prime Minister Balen Shah urged citizens to remain calm and maintain social harmony following the recent deadly violence in Sunsari.
- Shah promised a thorough investigation into the incident, including police use of force, ensuring that all responsible parties face legal consequences.
- The government is reviewing its security response to prevent future tragedies and restore public trust in state institutions.
- The Prime Minister appealed for empathy over hostility, cautioning against revenge and the spread of inflammatory rhetoric during this grieving period.
Kathmandu, Nepal: As grief and anger continue to ripple through communities following the deadly violence in Sunsari, Prime Minister Balen Shah has urged Nepalis not to let pain turn into hatred, appealing instead for calm, compassion and faith in the rule of law.
In a heartfelt message posted on Facebook late Tuesday night, Shah acknowledged the profound sense of loss felt by the victims' families and by a nation shaken by another episode of violence. While pledging that those responsible would be brought to justice, he urged citizens to resist the temptation of retaliation and instead help preserve the social harmony that binds communities together.
"I am saddened by what happened in Sunsari not only as the Prime Minister, but also as a citizen of this country," Shah wrote, describing the tragedy as one that had affected him both personally and professionally.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to those who lost their lives and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He also wished the injured a speedy recovery, saying the government understands the pain and uncertainty they are enduring and remains committed to ensuring that they receive both justice and appropriate support.
Shah acknowledged that feelings of grief, anger and frustration are natural after such a tragedy. However, he cautioned that allowing those emotions to turn into revenge or further violence would only deepen the suffering and create new victims.
He urged the public to place their trust in the legal process rather than take matters into their own hands.
"There will be justice," he said, assuring citizens that the government would conduct a thorough investigation and take legal action against everyone found responsible.
A significant portion of Shah's statement focused on the reported use of force by security personnel during the incident. Acknowledging that civilians had been killed and injured by police gunfire, he said such a loss of life was deeply troubling and could never be regarded as a routine consequence of maintaining public order.
"The loss of civilian life at the hands of security forces is not something any government should consider normal," he said, adding that an official investigation is already underway and that anyone found responsible will be held accountable in accordance with the law.
Shah also acknowledged that, although the government had responded from the outset of the incident, its efforts had not been sufficient to prevent the violence from escalating.
Rather than defending the government's response, he said the administration is reviewing the entire sequence of events to determine what went wrong and what changes are necessary to prevent similar incidents in the future. The findings, he said, will inform reforms to public security, crisis management and institutional accountability.
Throughout his message, the Prime Minister returned to a central theme: preventing grief from turning into division.
He warned that rumours, misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric can spread as quickly as violence itself, further destabilising already fragile situations. During periods of heightened public emotion, he said, every citizen has a responsibility to protect peace by rejecting provocation and refusing to engage in activities that could inflame tensions.
Shah also stressed that justice cannot be achieved without public confidence in state institutions. According to him, the government's responsibility extends beyond investigating the incident; it must also reassure citizens that it is capable of protecting lives, delivering justice and holding its own institutions accountable when mistakes occur.
"The first duty of humanity is to protect human life," he wrote. "Likewise, the government's foremost responsibility is to safeguard its citizens, bring those responsible to justice, and ensure that victims receive justice and appropriate compensation."
Concluding his message, Shah appealed directly to citizens to choose empathy over hostility despite the pain caused by the incident.
"Even if your heart is filled with grief, resentment, fear or anger, please do not allow those emotions to lead to violence," he said. "Do not participate in or encourage any activity that incites unrest. Stay safe. Remain calm. Let us treat one another with love and respect, and let us preserve social harmony."
The Prime Minister's appeal comes at a time when emotions remain raw in the aftermath of the Sunsari tragedy. Beyond announcing an investigation and promising legal action, his message sought to reassure grieving families, calm an anxious public and reinforce the principle that justice must be pursued through the rule of law rather than through anger or retaliation.
As investigators work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, the government's immediate challenge will be not only to determine accountability but also to restore public confidence, support the affected families and prevent further unrest.
