Gutted, vandalised: Nepal’s biggest media house building lies in shambles as aftermath of Gen Z protests surfaces

The building of Nepal’s leading media house—Kantipur Media Group—was one of the structures that was targeted by the Gen Z protesters during the recent major turmoil.

Also read: Nepal Gen Z protestors want to keep Constitution, but monarchists seek change

PM Oli quits, Parliament torched as Nepal uprising spirals

Nepal's young protesters, army in talks to decide interim leader

Nepal’s Gen-Z demands reform, asks what comes next?

Nepal unrest: 3 dead in jail clashes, 15,000 prisoners escape amid violent protests

For 24 hours as the violence in Nepal peaked on Tuesday, the media group was inaccessible. It is now back on its feet. Kathmandu Post, the country’s largest newspaper, came out this morning.

In pictures exclusively shared with The Tribune, the once-grand 10-storey building in the heart of Kathmandu is now lying in shambles with windows broken, glasses shattered and much of the facade completely blackened due to the arson.

Significantly, Gen Z protesters have publicly dissociated from the violence. Speaking to The Kathmandu Post, protest leaders alleged that the movement was “infiltrated by outsiders” bent on discrediting their campaign.

”It’s not easy to set a car on fire, leave alone a Parliament building,” an analyst who closely watched the events unfold told The Tribune, adding “there is serious concern about what happened.”

Kathmandu and several major cities have witnessed unprecedented unrest in the past two days after the government ordered a sweeping ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp and X. What began as anger against digital restrictions quickly escalated into nationwide demonstrations against graft and political elitism. At least 30 people have been killed and hundreds injured in clashes with security forces, prompting the army to impose curfews and patrol the Capital.

The turmoil came in the backdrop of simmering tensions between the government and the media.

Last year, the Kantipur Media Group (KMG) chairman Kailash Sirohiya was arrested for alleged citizenship irregularities, a move widely condemned by journalist bodies as politically motivated. At the time, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a New York–based non-profit organisation, reported that the arrest followed a string of hard-hitting investigative reports published by KMG outlets.