Kathmandu, Nepal — A massive protest in Nepal’s capital over the government’s ban on social media platforms has turned violent, leading to at least 14 deaths and dozens of injuries. The clashes on Monday saw thousands of demonstrators, largely from the younger “Gen Z” generation, breach barricades and storm the Parliament building, prompting authorities to impose a curfew and deploy the army to restore order.
The protest was a response to the government’s decision last Thursday to ban 26 social media platforms and apps, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. The ban was enacted after these platforms failed to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, a requirement mandated by a recent Supreme Court ruling. The government stated the move was necessary to regulate content, address misinformation, and ensure platforms comply with local laws.
Protestors, organized under the banner “Hami Nepal,” gathered in Kathmandu, pushing through barbed wire and forcing riot police to retreat. The situation escalated when protestors entered the Parliament premises, leading security forces to respond with tear gas, water cannons, and, ultimately, live ammunition. Reports from The Kathmandu Post and other local media outlets have confirmed a rising death toll, with multiple victims succumbing to gunshot wounds at various hospitals.
“We were triggered by the social media ban, but that is not the only reason we are gathered here,” said Yujan Rajbhandari, a 24-year-old student, in a statement to AFP. The protests, he and others noted, are also a reflection of deep-seated frustration with government corruption and authoritarianism. Protestors carried placards with slogans like “Shut down corruption and not social media,” highlighting a broader discontent with the country’s political elite.
The Kathmandu District Administration Office has imposed a curfew in several high-security areas, including the Parliament, the government secretariat, and the presidential palace, until 10 p.m. local time. The army has been called in to assist police in controlling the situation. While the ban has been widely criticized by human rights and press freedom groups, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has defended the government’s decision, stating that “any attempt to undermine the nation can never be tolerated.”