Nepal: 19 killed, over 200 injured during protests

Demonstrators clash with riot police outside the Parliament in Kathmandu on Monday. PIC/AFP

At least 19 people were killed and dozens injured on Monday as violent protests by youth rocked the Nepalese capital and certain other areas over the government's decision to ban social media sites, prompting authorities to deploy the army in Kathmandu to control the situation.

Thousands of youth, including school students, under the banner of ‘Gen Z', converged in front of the Parliament in the heart of Kathmandu and shouted anti-government slogans demanding immediate revocation of the ban. The Nepalese media put the death toll at 19. However, there is no official word on number of casualties yet. The demonstration turned violent when some protesters entered the Parliament complex, prompting police to resort to baton charges, tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, eyewitnesses said.

Meanwhile, a Nepal Police spokesperson said several people including security personnel were injured and currently undergoing treatment, while the Himalayan Times newspaper said that the number of injured is estimated to be over 200 due to the large volume of cases. It added that hospitals are struggling to accommodate patients and have begun referring them to other facilities. Following the violence, the local administration imposed a curfew in several parts of the capital. The Army has been deployed to control the situation, military officials said.

The government on September 4 banned 26 social media sites, including Facebook, WhatsApp, X, Instagram and YouTube, for failing to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. The government said the ban was to bring the sites under regulation, but the masses believe it will curb free speech, and may lead to censorship.

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