Violent clashes between protesters and police in Nepal have resulted in at least 51 fatalities and injuries to up to 1,000 individuals. The unrest, which started on September 8, 2025, escalated outside the parliament building in Kathmandu as demonstrations against a government-imposed social media ban turned deadly.
Thousands of young Nepali citizens protested the government’s block on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and WhatsApp. The ban was enforced after these platforms did not meet a government deadline for registration.
The protests, largely attended by younger individuals, began peacefully with participants displaying Nepal’s national flag and chanting against the social media restrictions. However, tensions escalated rapidly when protesters attempted to enter the parliament premises. An official mentioned that the demonstrators broke a barricade, set fire to an ambulance, and hurled objects at the riot police protecting the legislature.
Muktiram Rijal, spokesperson for the Kathmandu District Administration Office, stated that police used water cannons, batons, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Security forces also discharged live ammunition when protesters breached restricted zones near government facilities. Both demonstrators and law enforcement personnel were among the casualties, with state-run television reporting numerous injuries.
A police representative informed AFP: “Tear gas and water cannons were used after the protesters breached the restricted area.” Riot police had to retreat after being surrounded by demonstrators, as tear gas filled the air while protesters defied authority.
Authorities imposed a curfew in parts of Kathmandu to quell the unrest. A limited number of soldiers were deployed to the capital following the curfew announcement, according to a government spokesperson.
Government officials justified the social media ban as essential to curb misinformation and online fraud. The platforms were blocked for not registering with Nepali authorities despite repeated warnings. Opponents criticized the move as an infringement on free expression.
The banned platforms are widely utilized across Nepal, intensifying public dissatisfaction with the government’s decision. Some users turned to virtual private networks to access the restricted platforms. Meanwhile, platforms such as TikTok and Viber, which complied with registration requirements, continued to operate.
This is not Nepal’s first restriction on social media. TikTok faced a block in 2023 over allegations of disrupting social harmony, but the restriction was lifted in 2024 after the company complied with local regulations.
The September 8 protests were among the most significant civil disturbances in Nepal in recent years, indicating rising tensions between the government and the younger population, who heavily depend on social media for communication and information. The casualty figures and level of violence represented a significant escalation from the initially peaceful demonstrations.
The government’s reaction involved imposing a curfew and deploying limited military forces, with police using live ammunition during the confrontations.
According to police, parallel protests took place in Biratnagar and Bharatpur in the southern plains, as well as in Pokhara in western Nepal.
Interior Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned, citing moral responsibility for the violence, as reported by a government minister speaking to Reuters on the condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak to the media.
Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli convened an urgent cabinet meeting to address the unrest as thousands of young individuals, many in school or college uniforms, marched through the streets.
In subsequent days, the turmoil led to substantial political changes in Nepal. On September 9, the government lifted the social media ban following mass protests, but the demonstrations had already resulted in at least 30 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
The violence continued to escalate, and by September 12, the death toll had reached 51 with over 1,300 injuries, according to Reuters. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned amid growing pressure, and former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed interim prime minister, becoming Nepal’s first female head of government.
After a quieter early October, momentum resumed on October 29 when Nepal Police announced an AIG-led internal investigation into the Gen-Z protest crackdown. The panel—headed by Additional Inspector General Sushil Singh Rathore—was tasked with reviewing alleged excessive force, deaths and injuries, operational lapses, and the scope of damage, with a one-month deadline to report findings.
In early November, the government moved on to victim recognition. On November 3–4, authorities declared people killed during the September unrest as martyrs, a Cabinet-level decision that several outlets characterized as a formal acknowledgment of loss while broader casualty accounting remains contested.
Between November 2–5, the Karki-led panel began recording statements in Kathmandu—starting with the former Nakkhu Prison chief—and questioned Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane about the chaotic prisoner releases and alleged jailbreak narratives during the protests. Related reporting notes disputes over an authorization letter and claims of administrative pressure amid unrest outside the jail.
