At least 51 people were killed and hundreds were injured during violent “Gen Z” protests in Nepal since Monday, September 8, 2025, as thousands of demonstrators clashed with authorities over a government-imposed social media ban and broader corruption concerns.
The deadly confrontations occurred when tens of thousands of young protesters—many in school uniforms and calling themselves “Gen Z”—attempted to storm the parliament building in Kathmandu. Police responded with live ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons, and batons when demonstrators broke through barricades.
The protests were sparked by the government’s decision to block 26 social media platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, Signal, and Snapchat—for failing to register with authorities by a stipulated deadline. Only a few platforms, like TikTok and Viber, complied and remained accessible.
Following emergency consultations, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned on September 8, accepting “moral responsibility” for the violence. Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli also stepped down the next day—Tuesday, September 9, 2025—amid surging public anger.
Hospitals, including the National Trauma Center, treated many wounded—some fatally shot in critical areas like the head and chest—while emergency vehicles rushed victims through tear gas-fogged streets, and volunteers lined up for blood donations.
The uprising quickly spread to other major cities, including Biratnagar, Bharatpur, Pokhara, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Butwal, Itahari, and Damak, where protesters carried placards reading “Unban social media” and “Shut down corruption, not social media,” reflecting deep frustration over corruption, nepotism, and lack of economic opportunities.
The government imposed curfews in key cities—especially around the parliament, presidential residence, and government offices. Defying a citywide curfew, demonstrators targeted government offices and the residences of politicians as protests over censorship and economic hardship entered their second day. Protesters managed to breach and set fire to several vehicles on the parliament grounds.
Authorities defended the social media restrictions as measures to combat fraud, crime, misinformation, and hate speech; platforms were required to register, appoint local compliance officers, and maintain contact points—but most did not comply.
The violent crackdown drew strong international backlash. Amnesty International condemned the unlawful use of lethal force, while the United Nations demanded a prompt and transparent investigation. UN human rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani voiced deep shock at the deaths and injuries.
The Civil Service Hospital’s staff described unprecedented chaos, as tear gas infiltrated treatment areas and disrupted care.
Prime Minister Oli had defended the ban, saying national sovereignty took precedence over individual job concerns and questioning the legality of defying the regulations.
On Tuesday, the government officially lifted the social media ban, as viral “Nepo-Kid” videos—juxtaposing average citizens with the luxurious lifestyles of politicians’ children—fanned public rage.
The protests marked some of the worst civil unrest in decades. They underscored the growing influence of youth-led activism in demanding accountability and systemic change in a country that’s seen 14 different governments since abolishing the monarchy in 2008.
State-run media reported that the unrest triggered mass prison breaks, with thousands of inmates escaping facilities across the country. At a juvenile detention center in the southwest, police fired on a group of youths attempting to flee, killing five and critically wounding four others. In a separate incident west of Kathmandu, troops shot and killed at least one prisoner during an escape attempt. According to the state-run newspaper Rising Nepal, inmates at that facility had set it ablaze on Tuesday before launching an attack on the stationed troops.
Prior warnings had been raised by the press and rights groups. The Committee to Protect Journalists warned that the ban endangered press freedom, and Human Rights Watch emphasized that the protests represented deep-seated frustration with corruption and governance, not just enforcement issues.
Nepal’s army announced it would deploy soldiers to help restore calm after the second day of unrest. The violence persisted despite the resignation of the prime minister and the lifting of the social media bans that had sparked the turmoil.
In Kathmandu, members of the political elite were directly targeted, with the homes of several former prime ministers set ablaze during the unrest.
Nepal’s top security leaders, including the army chief, released a joint statement urging the public to remain calm and calling on political parties to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis. However, with Mr. Oli and several other senior officials out of office, it was uncertain who was actually leading the country — and by late Tuesday, the army announced it would take control.
On September 10, Gen Z activists said they wanted a former chief justice of the Supreme Court to head a new temporary government. Nepal’s military deployed troops in Kathmandu to restore order following two days of unrest that left numerous government buildings heavily damaged. Protesters demanded early elections to address the political gap left when the prime minister and several cabinet members resigned on Tuesday, leaving the rest of the government to operate in a caretaker capacity.
In its message, the military appealed to demonstrators to stop looting and setting fires, saying its goal was to reestablish law and order.
By September 12, the death toll had risen to 51 with more than 1,300 injured, according to Reuters. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned under mounting pressure, and former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed interim prime minister, becoming the first woman to hold the post in Nepal.
