Watch: Protesters Storm Nepal Parliament, Curfew Imposed in Kathmandu Amid Backlash Over Social Media Ban
Protesters vandalized the Nepal parliament gate, and police fired dozens of rounds. Many people were injured during the protests.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Massive protests led by Gen Z demonstrators erupted in Kathmandu on Monday against corruption allegations and the recent ban on several major social media platforms, The Kathmandu Post reported.
Protesters vandalized the Nepal parliament gate, and police fired dozens of rounds. Many people were injured during the protests.
According to The Kathmandu Post, the protests quickly turned violent, prompting authorities to extend a curfew across key parts of the capital.
What began as a peaceful march escalated when protesters broke through barricades and entered restricted zones near Parliament.
Police responded with water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets after demonstrators threw tree branches and water bottles and shouted anti-government slogans. Some protesters reportedly entered the Parliament compound, intensifying the situation.
In response to the unrest, the Kathmandu District Administration Office extended the curfew initially imposed in the capital's Baneshwar area. The new curfew now includes several high-security zones, such as the President's residence (Shital Niwas), the Vice-President's residence in Lainchaur, Maharajgunj, all sides of Singha Durbar, the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar, and adjacent areas, as reported by The Kathmandu Post.
Chief District Officer Chhabilal Rijal issued the curfew order under Section 6 of the Local Administration Act, effective from 12:30 PM to 10:00 PM (local time).The public is strictly prohibited from movement, gatherings, protests, or encirclement activities within these zones.
According to The Kathmandu Post, the protests follow the Nepal government's decision to ban 26 unregistered social media platforms, including widely used apps such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Snapchat. The move has sparked public outrage, especially among young people, who accuse the government of stifling free expression while failing to address deep-seated corruption.
Two people were reportedly injured by rubber bullets fired by police to control the crowd, The Kathmandu Post reported.
In Kathmandu, a television journalist was hit by a rubber bullet while covering the demonstrations in Baneshwar. He is currently receiving treatment at Civil Hospital.
Another person was injured in Damak, the hometown of Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, after protests turned violent.
According to The Kathmandu Post, citing eyewitnesses, police opened fire when demonstrators attempted to storm the Damak Municipality office.
As the protests gained momentum, leading Nepali artists, actors, and entertainers voiced their support, further amplifying the movement.
Nepalese actor Hari Bansha Acharya posted on Facebook, saying, "Today's youth do more than just think—they ask questions. Why did this road collapse? Who is accountable? This is not a voice against the system but against those who misuse it."
He urged political leaders to take responsibility and prepare the next generation for leadership.
Madan Krishna Shrestha, another actor, echoed similar sentiments in a Facebook post, stating, "Corruption has reached alarming levels, and even Mother Nepal seems to weep. Youth are the country's future, and their dreams mirror Nepal's. Years of stagnation have frustrated every citizen. This is today's Gen Z speaking. Their voices must be heard. Corrupt officials must be held accountable, leaders who understand citizens' needs must emerge, and the nation's aspirations must be realized."
Singer and actor Prakash Saput publicly supported the protesters by sending NRs 25,000 each to two brothers participating in the protests, advising them to stay hydrated and use the funds to help fellow demonstrators, The Kathmandu Post reported.
Rage against the Nepalese government erupted after it decided to shut down over two dozen social media platforms, claiming it was an effort to tax the revenue they generate in the country and to control content critical of the government.
Social media sites went dark after midnight on September 4.The government stated that it took the action after issuing repeated warnings to the platforms to open offices in Nepal, following a Cabinet decision last month that set a deadline, as well as an August 17 Supreme Court ruling requiring them to register and pay the requisite taxes.
However, the bill cited in the ban, The Operation, Use, and Regulation of Social Media in Nepal, has not yet been passed by Parliament. Some social media platforms, which were already paying taxes in Nepal despite not being officially registered, have also been blocked.
Currently, platforms such as Viber, TikTok, WeTalk, and Nimbuzz are registered in Nepal, while Telegram and Global Diary are in the process of registering. Widely used platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp have yet to initiate registration.
Social media users calling themselves "Gen-Z" called for the nationwide protest today against the government’s ban on social media.
Earlier, social media leaflets and posts had urged people to gather in Baneshwor, near the federal parliament in the capital, to pressurize the government to reverse its decision to shut down the social media platforms.
(With inputs from agencies)
Published By : Ankita Paul
Published On: 8 September 2025 at 14:42 IST