Sept 08, 2025 :

Kathmandu witnessed its deadliest unrest in years on Monday as protests against the government’s social media ban spiraled into violence, leaving at least 19 people dead and more than 200 injured.

The demonstrations, dubbed the “Gen Z protest” because of the overwhelming participation of students and young people, erupted after the government blocked access to 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. The ban was justified by officials as a response to non-compliance with local registration laws, but critics argue it is a direct attack on freedom of speech and press rights.

Clashes broke out across Kathmandu and other cities as thousands of protestors tore through barbed wire barricades, forcing riot police to retreat. In New Baneshwor, crowds stormed near Parliament, while in Damak, demonstrators pelted stones at Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s residence, prompting police to fire warning shots. Protesters also set tyres ablaze along the East-West Highway, blocking traffic for hours.

The violence spread beyond the capital. In Itahari, police gunfire left two people dead, raising the nationwide toll. Reports confirmed that one protester was killed outside the Itahari Sub-metropolitan City Office. Meanwhile, curfews were enforced in Butwal, Bhairahawa, and parts of Kathmandu, including Parliament, the presidential palace, and other high-security areas.

Journalists were not spared. Television reporter Shyam Shrestha was shot with a rubber bullet while covering events in Baneshwar and is being treated in hospital. Protesters accused police of escalating the situation, insisting their march began peacefully until authorities resorted to heavy-handed tactics.

The Nepalese army has been deployed in Kathmandu, signaling the seriousness of the crisis. Visuals flooding social media show crowds overwhelming security forces, vandalizing government property, and clashing with police amid tear gas and gunfire.

The unrest has rattled neighboring India, which placed its border forces on high alert. Officials confirmed the Sashastra Seema Bal is closely monitoring the situation to prevent spillover violence.

With the death toll climbing and international concern rising, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli convened an emergency cabinet meeting late Monday. Sources suggest the government may consider revoking the controversial ban, but no official decision has yet been announced.

What began as a digital policy dispute has exploded into a nationwide movement, highlighting deep tensions between Nepal’s youth and its government. For many demonstrators, the fight is no longer just about social media—it is about the right to speak, connect, and resist state control.