A dispute over loud music during a Hindu religious procession has erupted into deadly communal violence in southern Nepal, leaving one person dead, more than 20 injured and authorities facing serious questions over their handling of the unrest.

The violence began late Sunday in Kaptanganj, part of Dewanganj Rural Municipality in Sunsari district near the Indian border. Participants in the annual Bolbam pilgrimage were passing through a market while playing amplified music when members of the local Muslim community objected to the volume. The verbal confrontation rapidly escalated as larger groups gathered, reportedly armed with sticks, stones, bamboo poles and other makeshift weapons.

Police said they resorted to gunfire after tear gas, baton charges and warning shots failed to disperse the crowd. At least three people have been reported killed, while more than a dozen police and Armed Police Force personnel were also said to have been injured. Some reports put the overall number of injured at 22 or more.

The shooting triggered demonstrations across Sunsari, with incidents of arson, vandalism and attacks on businesses reported. Authorities imposed curfews in Dewanganj, Inaruwa and several surrounding areas, restricted public gatherings and deployed additional police, armed officers and army personnel.

Nepal’s Home Ministry formed a five-member committee to investigate the violence and ordered it to report within a week. The government also transferred the district’s chief administrative officer and senior provincial and district police officials amid mounting criticism.

The incident has exposed weaknesses in Nepal’s approach to communal security. Under its federal system, responsibility is divided among federal, provincial and district authorities, frequently creating uncertainty over command and coordination. Security experts argue that the government has concentrated on containing violence after it erupts instead of establishing local mechanisms for early warning, interfaith dialogue and conflict prevention.

Political parties and Hindu and Muslim community leaders have appealed for restraint and an impartial investigation, warning residents against rumors, inflammatory social-media posts and attempts to blame entire communities for the actions of individuals.