Kathmandu, September 8: At least nineteen people were killed and over a hundred injured in violent clashes across Nepal on Monday, as thousands of youth-led protesters took to the streets to oppose the government’s recent social media ban and demand action against corruption.
The protests, which have been dubbed “Gen Z demonstrations”, began in Kathmandu and quickly spread to other major cities, including Itahari, Biratnagar, Bharatpur, and Pokhara. Demonstrators, many of them students in school and college uniforms, carried placards with slogans such as “Unban Social Media” and “Shut Down Corruption, Not the Internet.”
According to officials, four protesters died in Kathmandu after attempting to storm the parliament complex, where they reportedly set fire to an ambulance and hurled objects at riot police. Authorities confirmed two more deaths in the eastern city of Itahari as violence escalated there. The remaining fatalities were reported from various protest sites throughout the country.
Police responded with tear gas, water cannons, batons, and rubber bullets. A spokesperson from the Kathmandu District Office confirmed that the army had been deployed to protect key government buildings in the Singha Durbar area, which houses the Prime Minister’s Office. A curfew was enforced until 10 p.m. local time.
“This is the protest by the new generation in Nepal,” said one protester in a statement to ANI, blaming government inaction on job creation and corruption. Another protester said, “The police have been firing indiscriminately… my friend was hit in the hand by a rubber bullet.”
Authorities reported that at least 28 police personnel were among the injured, and more than 100 civilians were receiving treatment. Many injured protesters were transported to hospitals on motorcycles amid the chaos.
The unrest follows the government’s controversial decision to ban multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, citing the failure of tech companies to register with authorities. Officials claim the ban is aimed at curbing the misuse of online platforms, including the spread of fake news, hate speech, and fraud.
However, critics have slammed the move as a direct attack on freedom of expression, particularly in a country where over 90% of the population is online.
Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli held an emergency cabinet meeting Monday evening to discuss the situation. His administration has faced mounting criticism for failing to address widespread unemployment, government favoritism, and corruption scandals. Former finance secretary Rameshwore Khanal said the public outrage stems from the government’s inability to fulfill its promises, more so than economic stagnation alone.
As dusk fell, the violence began to subside, but tensions remain high, and protesters have vowed to continue their campaign if their demands are not met.
