some protesters climbed over a wall.
At least 19 people have been killed and dozens more injured in Nepal after ‘Gen Z’ demonstrations against political corruption and a government social media ban escalated into clashes with security forces.
Thousands of protesters gathered near the parliament building in Kathmandu over the ban on platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube, as well as broader dissatisfaction with the government.
Police responded with deadly and allegedly indiscriminate force, firing live rounds of ammunition and tear gas as well as hitting protesters with batons, rubber bullets and water cannon.
The government says social media platforms must be regulated to tackle fake news, hate speech and online fraud. But platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal who rely on them for entertainment, news and business.
Demonstrators carried placards reading “enough is enough” and “end to corruption”. Many said they were protesting what they called the authoritarian attitude of the government.
The rally moved into a restricted area near parliament, where some protesters climbed over a wall.
Police confirmed at least 19 people had died from serious injuries sustained at the protests, including bullet injuries to the head and chest.
Most died in the clashes in Kathmandu but two were killed when protests turned violent in the eastern city of Itahari. More than 100 others were said to be injured and receiving treatment in hospital.
Ranjana Nepal, an official at a hospital treating many of the injured, said tear gas also entered the hospital, making it difficult for doctors to work:
“I have never seen such a disturbing situation at the hospital.”
A Kathmandu district office spokesperson said a curfew was imposed in areas including the parliament building after protesters tried to enter.
Two more people died in the eastern city of Itahari while protesting following the curfew, local police said.
Nepal Army spokesman Rajaram Basnet told the BBC a small unit of soldiers had been deployed in the streets after the curfew was introduced.
On September 8, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned during a cabinet meeting.
A minister present at the meeting said Lekhak stepped down on moral grounds following the deaths at the protests.
Authorities had ordered the blocking of 26 social media platforms for failing to register with Nepal’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.
Since September 5, users have faced difficulties accessing the platforms, though some are using VPNs to bypass the ban. Two platforms have since been reactivated after registering with the ministry.
Nepal’s government has argued it is not banning social media but seeking to bring platforms in line with Nepali law.
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