Kathmandu, Oct. 14 -- In front of the ashes of what used to be Ward 8 of Harion village, a crowd gathers. Two men are talking in Maithili: "They say they want to get rid of the provinces.'

The men were not part of the protests on 8-9 September, and have followed the news about some GenZ protesters wanting to abolish the 2015 federal republican Constitution that led to the establishment of Madhes Province.

Barely three weeks later, communal clashes broke out 70km away in Janakpur during a Durga immersion festival over Dasain, and a curfew had to be imposed. The Tarai districts along the Indian border with Hindu and Muslim communities have become chronic flashpoints for tension.

Between these two towns connected by the East-West Highw...