Social media ban sparks bloodshed in Nepal; 19 protesters killed, govt yields

At least 19 people were killed and hundreds injured on Monday after the Nepalese security forces opened fire on demonstrators, mostly young people, in what has quickly escalated into one of the country’s deadliest episodes of civil unrest in recent years.

The protests — dubbed the “Gen Z Movement” by locals — erupted in Kathmandu on September 7 after the government announced a sweeping ban on over two dozen social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and X. The government later announced withdrawal of its ban after violent protests.

Earlier in the day, officials claimed the restrictions were necessary to curb misinformation, scams and unregulated digital businesses. However, for Nepal’s digital native generation, already grappling with unemployment and alleged corruption, the move was seen as an attack on free expression and livelihood.

By Monday, the demonstrations had spread from Kathmandu’s Maitighar Mandala to major cities, including Pokhara, Biratnagar and Bharatpur. Protesters attempted to march toward Parliament and key government buildings, raising slogans against PM KP Sharma Oli’s administration.

The situation escalated after some protesters breached the “restricted zone” and entered the Parliament premises. The police responded with water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition, leaving at least 19 dead and hundreds injured.

The scale of bloodshed prompted Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak to resign, taking “moral responsibility” for the crackdown. He submitted his resignation during an emergency Cabinet meeting convened by PM Oli, who is now under mounting pressure to restore order and open a dialogue with the protesters.

The authorities imposed curfew across Kathmandu and deployed the army in sensitive zones. However, thousands of youth continued to defy the restrictions. Local television footage showed groups of students carrying placards reading “No Ban, No Lies, No Corruption” while deliberately keeping political party flags out of sight, indicating that the uprising was not political.

Human rights groups condemned the use of lethal force. Amnesty International’s South Asia office said in a statement that firing live rounds at unarmed demonstrators marked a “dangerous and unacceptable escalation”.

“The government of Nepal must immediately conduct a thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the deaths and hold all those found responsible fully accountable, including through criminal prosecution. Victims of unlawful use of force by the law enforcement agencies and the security forces must receive full and effective reparations from the state,” the organisation said.

What began as a protest over the Internet access has morphed into a generational showdown. For young Nepalese — many of whom spend hours online for work, education and activism — the ban has become a rallying point for deeper frustrations, including joblessness, corruption scandals and a political elite, which, they say, is out of touch.

By late evening, violence in Kathmandu had subsided, but thousands still occupied the streets vowing to continue until the government reversed the ban and launched anti-graft reforms.