Kathmandu, September 10: The Nepal Army on Wednesday enforced a nationwide curfew in an effort to restore order after violent anti-government protests that led to the resignation of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli.
Restrictive orders were imposed from morning till 5 p.m., followed by a curfew until 6 a.m. the next day. In its statement, the Army warned that any acts of protest, vandalism, arson, or violence during this period would be treated as criminal activities and dealt with strictly.
Troops were deployed across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and other cities, where security forces patrolled streets and fire brigades responded to blazes at government and private buildings. The measures came a day after protesters stormed government offices, torching the Parliament, the President’s Office, the Prime Minister’s residence, and homes of senior leaders.
The violent unrest, driven largely by Gen Z demonstrators against corruption and a government-imposed social media ban, left at least 19 people dead in police action on Monday. Oli resigned hours later, after agitators breached his office demanding accountability.
The Army, which assumed command of national security on Tuesday night, expressed concern over groups “taking undue advantage of the situation” by carrying out looting and attacks against citizens. Residents have been ordered to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary, with officials warning of possible threats including violent assaults.
By Wednesday morning, Kathmandu’s usually crowded streets were deserted, as citizens rushed to stock up on essentials before security forces tightened restrictions. While the social media ban was lifted late Tuesday night, authorities fear the unrest could continue unless stability is quickly restored.
