At least 19 people have died and many more were hurt after big protests in Nepal turned violent.
The demonstrators were mainly young activists from Generation Z, who were protesting against political corruption and a recent government decision to ban major social media platforms.
The protests started when thousands of people gathered near the parliament building in Kathmandu, expressing their anger over the government’s decision to block websites like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Instagram.
The government claimed the ban was to control fake news, hate speech, and online fraud. However, many Nepalese see it as a way to limit free speech.
The protesters held up signs with messages like “Enough is enough” and “End to corruption.” Many of them said the social media ban was just an excuse, and the real problem was corruption.
Sabana Budathoki, a protester, said, “Instead of the social media ban, people are really upset about corruption. We want our country to change.” Another protester said the restrictions were meant to stop people who are asking for justice.
As the protests got worse, the demonstrators entered a restricted area near the parliament building.
In response, security forces used water cannons, batons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to break up the crowd. The Kathmandu Valley Police reported that 19 people were killed in the capital, and two others died in the eastern city of Itahari after a curfew was put in place in that area.
Hospitals had a difficult time because tear gas had entered emergency rooms, making it very hard for medical staff to help the injured.
A hospital official described the situation as the worst she had ever seen.
After the unrest, a curfew was imposed in sensitive areas, and a group of Nepalese soldiers was sent to help keep things under control.
Officials said the social media ban was not meant to quiet people but was part of an effort to bring the platforms in line with Nepali laws. Last week, the government asked 26 social media platforms to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, or they would be blocked.
So far, two platforms have started working again after completing the registration process, while others are still not accessible.
Even though some protesters are using virtual private networks (VPNs) to get around the restrictions, tensions remain high.
With rising anger towards government corruption and growing concerns over digital freedom, Nepal continues to experience increasing unrest, driven by the youth of the country demanding change.
