Nepal Protests: 19 Killed, Hundreds Injured As Youth Clash With Police Over Social Media Ban

News in short (60 words only):

At least 19 people were killed and over 100 injured in Nepal as protests against a social media shutdown and corruption turned violent on Monday. Demonstrators stormed parliament in Kathmandu, clashing with police using tear gas, rubber bullets and batons. The unrest, led largely by youth, spread nationwide, prompting curfews and an emergency cabinet meeting.

News In Detail:

Kathmandu, Nepal – At least 19 people were killed and more than 100 injured on Monday as Nepal witnessed one of its deadliest outbreaks of civil unrest in recent years. Violence erupted in the capital, Kathmandu, after police clashed with demonstrators protesting against a government-imposed social media shutdown and rising corruption.

Authorities said the protests, led largely by students and young professionals, quickly spiraled out of control when demonstrators attempted to storm parliament. Police responded with water cannons, batons, tear gas, and rubber bullets, while the army was deployed around the legislature to reinforce law enforcement. “The police have been firing indiscriminately,” one protester told ANI news agency. “A bullet missed me but struck my friend in the hand.”

According to police officer Shekhar Khanal, more than 100 people, including 28 police personnel, were receiving medical treatment. Many of the injured were transported to hospitals by fellow protesters on motorcycles as ambulances struggled to move through the crowds. In addition to casualties in Kathmandu, two people were reported killed in the eastern city of Itahari when demonstrations there turned violent.

The unrest prompted Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to convene an emergency cabinet meeting to address the crisis. Authorities announced a daylong curfew in parts of Kathmandu, including Singha Durbar, an area that houses the prime minister’s office and other key government buildings.

The protests, described by organizers as “demonstrations by Gen Z,” drew thousands of young people, many dressed in school and college uniforms. Carrying flags and placards with slogans such as “Unban Social Media,” “Shut Down Corruption, Not Freedom,” and “Youths Against Corruption,” demonstrators voiced deep frustration with what they see as government inaction on both economic opportunities and the fight against graft.

Nepal’s youth make up a large portion of its 30 million population, with nearly 90% of citizens connected to the internet. The decision to block access to popular platforms, including Facebook, last week has sparked widespread outrage. Officials justified the ban by citing the failure of platforms to register with authorities amid a crackdown on the misuse of fake accounts spreading hate speech, misinformation, and fraud.

However, critics argue the move is politically motivated and designed to suppress dissent. “This is a protest by the new generation of Nepal,” one demonstrator said, emphasizing that young people are demanding accountability rather than silence.

Protests also spread beyond Kathmandu to other cities, including Biratnagar, Bharatpur, and Pokhara, as anger mounted nationwide. Although violence subsided by late evening, large groups of demonstrators remained outside parliament, defying curfew orders.

Analysts say the unrest highlights long-simmering frustrations over governance and corruption. Rameshwore Khanal, a former finance secretary, noted that while job creation in Nepal has lagged, young people appear more concerned about the government’s inability to end cronyism and corruption. Each year, thousands of Nepalis migrate abroad for education and work, citing limited opportunities at home.

Nepal’s social media ban mirrors similar moves worldwide, where governments are tightening regulations on Big Tech over issues of misinformation, data privacy, and national security. Critics, however, warn that such measures risk stifling free expression and could ignite further discontent, particularly among youth populations eager for reform.

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