Protests in Nepal turn deadly: Gen Z increases Kathmandu over corruption and social media bans, killing 14 people and engaging the army. Parliament disobeyed curfews that were in effect. Read the complete coverage on Real Breaking News.
The city of Kathmandu is flaming with anger and sorrow. Tech-savvy Generation Z in Nepal clashed with police forces over an unpopular social media ban and massive government corruption on Monday, September 8, 2025, crowding the streets of the capital and other cities, leading to at least 14 deaths. The Nepali Army has now been called in, and curfews have locked down important locations as what began as a call for internet freedom has turned into a deadly conflict. With the world watching, the country is on edge.
The spark?
26 social media networks, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X, were blocked by a broad government order on September 4, 2025, for not registering with authorities according to with new rules. The government, under the leadership of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, claimed that the prohibition was meant to avoid abuses such as fraud and hate speech. However, it was a clear attack on free expression and an excuse for restricting dissent for Nepal's youth, who account for 90% of the nation's 30 million internet users. As thousands of people, many dressed in school uniforms, gathered to the streets and waved Nepal's red and blue flags, the slogan "Stop corruption, not social media!" became their rallying cry.
Protesters marched toward the national parliament building in Kathmandu's New Baneshwor neighborhood, where the protests turned into violence. Fueled by anger over corruption and Oli's disrespectful comments regarding employment losses due to the ban, the crowd smashed over reinforced barricades and attacked the parliament building. As police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and occasionally live shot, cries of "Oli, leave the country!" sounded over the scene. Tragically, there were over 100 injuries, including two journalists, and 14 confirmed deaths. With two and seven reported deaths, respectively, hospitals such as Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and the National Trauma Centre are overcrowded.
A curfew was enforced by the Kathmandu District Administration Office from 1 to 10 p.m. in Baneshwor, Shital Niwas (the residence of the president), Lainchaur (the residence of the vice president), Baluwatar (the residence of the prime minister), and Singha Durbar (the government complex). There have been reports of crowd separation using batons and water cannons, forcing the Nepali Army to be called in to support police efforts. Curfews were imposed on places like Butwal and Bhairahawa, while protests also broke out in Pokhara, Bharatpur, and Biratnagar. Videos of protesters tearing down barricades have gone viral, and an ambulance was set on fire in New Baneshwor.
The Nepal National Human Rights Commission criticized the "excessive use of force" by security forces, and the opposition, especially the CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN (Unified Socialist), has called for Oli's resignation. Political outsider Balendra Shah, the mayor of Kathmandu, expressed sympathy with the young people by saying, "My heart is with them, but I can't join due to my age." In the middle of the violence, Oli justified the ban as an issue of "national sovereignty," but sources claim that his government is now considering the change.
Hashtags such as #NepalProtests and #UnbanSocialMedia are trending on social media, and Gen Z is using VPNs to get around limitations and express their disapproval. One protester on X said, "We're fighting for our future, not just for Facebook." Motivated by recent protests in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the instability, dubbed the "Gen Z Revolution," indicates that young people are prepared to challenge established power.
There are many unanswered concerns as Nepal struggles with this crisis: Will the government change direction or step up? Will there be a return to peace without additional deaths? Tracking every development is what REAL BREAKING NEWS does. Tell us what you think about the full scope of these protests. Use the comments section below to share them.
Post a Comment