KATHMANDU, Sept 8: At least 19 people were killed and more than 300 injured Monday as violent protests erupted across Nepal against the government’s ban on 26 social media platforms, officials said. The unrest, led largely by youths under the banner of Gen Z, began in Kathmandu and quickly spread to Pokhara, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Bharatpur, Itahari, and Damak.
Thousands of demonstrators, including school students, gathered outside Parliament in central Kathmandu, shouting anti-government slogans and demanding the immediate revocation of the ban. Eyewitnesses said the protest turned chaotic when some participants forced their way into the Parliament complex, prompting police to respond with water cannons, tear gas, and live ammunition.
Nepal Police spokesperson Binod Ghimire said 17 people were killed in various clashes in Kathmandu, while two others died in Sunsari district in the east during police firing. “The situation escalated quickly. We used necessary measures to control the crowd, but unfortunately, there were casualties,” Ghimire noted.
Hospital sources reported the victims were treated at multiple facilities. The Kathmandu Post cited officials saying eight died at the National Trauma Centre, three at Everest Hospital, three at Civil Hospital, two at Kathmandu Medical College, and one at Tribhuvan Teaching Hospital. Nationwide, at least 347 injured protesters are receiving treatment, with Civil Hospital caring for 100, Everest 102, and other hospitals handling the rest.
The Himalayan Times reported that major hospitals are struggling to accommodate patients and have begun referring some to other medical centers.
In response to the violence, local authorities imposed curfews in several areas of Kathmandu and extended restrictions to Lalitpur, Pokhara, Butwal, and Itahari in Sunsari district. Chief District Officer Chhabi Lal Rijal said, “No movement of people, demonstration, meeting, gathering, or sit-in will be allowed in the restricted zone.” The curfew was later expanded to cover areas surrounding Rastrapati Bhawan, the Vice-President’s residence, and the Prime Minister’s Office.
The protests followed the government’s
