The Nepal Human Rights Commission condemned the use of

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In Short

ousands of Gen Z protesters flooded the streets of Kathmandu and other major cities on Monday, rallying against corruption and a recent sweeping social media ban imposed by Prime Minister K
P
Sharma Oli’s government
What started as online protest easily resulted in riots throughout the country, the deaths of at least 14 people and injuries to more than 200 after police fired at various sites

We will fight against corruption.” In Kathmandu, tensions peaked when protesters breached police barricades near Parliament

Digital Desk: Thousands of Gen Z protesters flooded the streets of Kathmandu and other major cities on Monday, rallying against corruption and a recent sweeping social media ban imposed by Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government. What started as online protest easily resulted in riots throughout the country, the deaths of at least 14 people and injuries to more than 200 after police fired at various sites.

The riots sprang up when the government blocked more than 2 dozen social media sites such as X, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp on the grounds of failure to comply with the mandatory registration policies. Critics argue the move is an attempt to suppress dissent and silence Nepal's digital generation.

Protestors, mostly youth with no political affiliations, stormed the streets chanting, “We are the movement. We will fight against corruption.” Kathmandu exploded to levels where demonstrators broke police barricades outside Parliament. Security agencies retaliated by dropping tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds. A curfew was imposed across key government zones.

Casualties were reported at several hospitals: seven died at the National Trauma Centre, three at Everest Hospital, two at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, and one at KMC Hospital. Over 200 injured are being treated across Kathmandu.

The Nepal Human Rights Commission condemned the use of excessive force and urged the government to respect the voices of the new generation.

Anger among Gen Z has been building due to rising censorship, nepotism, and youth unemployment. A large number of young Nepalis depend on social media as their source of income and the ban greatly disrupted with their lives. There was also an expression of anger amongst protesters that the political elites are sending their children to other countries yet citizens back home are languishing.

As discontent spreads, many are calling this movement Nepal’s “Gen Z Revolution.”