KATHMANDU - At least 15 people were killed and dozens more injured in clashes between youth and police in the Nepali capital and some other areas over the government's decision to ban social media platforms. Authorities had to deploy troops in Kathmandu to control the situation.
According to information received, thousands of youth and school students gathered in front of the parliament in Kathmandu under the banner of GEN-Z and shouted slogans against the government and demanded immediate repeal of the ban on social media platforms.
Meanwhile, when some protesters tried to enter the parliament, the crowd became uncontrollable. Police used baton charge, tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters who entered the parliament. Citing hospital reports, a newspaper reported that 14 people were killed during the protest in Kathmandu. The dead include six at the trauma centre, three at the civil hospital, three at Everest Hospital, one at Kathmandu Medical College (KMC) and one at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.
According to health ministry sources, the death toll in the GEN-Z protests has reached 14. A Nepal Police spokesperson said that 42 people, including two security personnel, were injured and are currently undergoing treatment at the civil hospital in Kathmandu.
Military officials said that the army has been deployed to control the situation. Following the violence, the local administration has imposed curfew in several parts of the capital. This has also led to anger in several other districts. The Kathmandu district administration has imposed restrictions in the areas around the Parliament building from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm to prevent unrest.
“No movement, demonstration, meeting, gathering or protest will be allowed in the restricted area,” Chief District Officer Chhabi Lal Rijal said in a notice.
It is worth noting that the government on Thursday banned 26 social media platforms Facebook, WhatsApp, X, Instagram and YouTube for failing to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Although the government has made its stand clear that the ban was imposed to regulate social media platforms, there is a common perception among the people that this will attack freedom of speech and may lead to censorship.