KATHMANDU — At least 19 people have died in Nepal after mass protests against government corruption and a sweeping social media ban descended into violence.
Thousands of mostly young demonstrators, identifying themselves as Generation Z, filled the streets near parliament in Kathmandu on Monday. They carried placards reading “Enough is enough” and “End corruption.” Many said the protest was about more than the sudden loss of Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
“The ban is just the reason we gathered,” said Sabana Budathoki, a young protester. “Rather than social media, everyone’s focus is on corruption. We want our country back.”
Police used tear gas, water cannons, batons, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. Seventeen people were killed in the capital alone, police spokesman Shekhar Khanal told AFP. Two more deaths were confirmed in the eastern city of Itahari.
The violence spread even into hospitals. Ranjana Nepal, an official at one medical facility, said tear gas entered wards where doctors were treating the wounded. “I have never seen such a disturbing situation at the hospital,” she said.
The government defended the crackdown. Prithvi Subba, Nepal’s Minister for Communication, told the BBC that police “had to use force” after protesters stormed restricted areas. Authorities later imposed a curfew around parliament and deployed army units in the capital.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned that evening, according to The Kathmandu Post, stepping down on moral grounds over the deaths.
The unrest follows a government order last week blocking 26 social media platforms that failed to register under new rules. Officials argue the move is aimed at curbing hate speech, fraud, and misinformation, not silencing dissent.
But critics see it differently. Protesters say the ban is an attempt to stifle free expression and deepen control over public life. “They want to silence us,” one demonstrator told local media. “That’s why we came to raise our voices — and we will not stop.”
Nepal’s relationship with social media is complicated. Millions of citizens use the platforms daily for news, entertainment, and small businesses. Many have turned to VPNs to bypass the ban. Two companies have since complied with government regulations and resumed services, but most remain blocked.
The protests expose a deeper anger among Nepal’s youth. Beyond access to apps, they accuse leaders of failing to tackle corruption and improve a fragile economy. For many, the ban was the last straw.
Whether Monday’s deadly clashes mark a turning point for Nepal’s politics is unclear. But the voices from Kathmandu’s streets suggest the country’s youngest generation is no longer willing to stay silent.
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