Kathmandu: Nepal witnessed its deadliest unrest in decades on Monday, with at least 19 people killed and more than 100 injured as protests erupted across the country. Demonstrations, largely led by young people, spread from the capital, Kathmandu, to other cities after the government blocked access to Facebook and 26 different social media platforms.
In Kathmandu, protesters broke through barricades and attempted to storm parliament. Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live rounds, leading to casualties. Witnesses described chaotic scenes, with ambulances set on fire and injured protesters ferried to hospitals on motorcycles. Among the injured were at least 28 police officers, according to authorities.
The immediate spark for the unrest was the government’s decision last week to ban 26 social media platforms, including Facebook. Officials argued that these companies had failed to register under Nepal’s laws, despite repeated requests. They cited growing concerns over fake accounts, hate speech, disinformation, and fraud. Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung told parliament last month that Meta, Facebook’s parent company, had refused to comply with Nepal’s regulations.
But for many young Nepalese—90% of the country’s 30 million people are online—the move was seen as a direct attack on free expression.
Marchers carried placards reading, “Shut down corruption, not social media” and “Unban social media.”
The violence has already shaken the government. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned, taking “moral responsibility” for the bloodshed. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli convened an emergency cabinet meeting late Monday to discuss the crisis.
The protests reflect deeper frustrations among Nepal’s youth, who see corruption and weak governance as major obstacles to their future. The ban on social media—platforms that have become their main avenue for communication, news, and political debate—was the breaking point.
( inputs- Reuters & Kathmandu Post)
