SAEDNEWS: At least 14 people have been killed and dozens more injured after violent clashes erupted in Kathmandu when protesters surrounded parliament to oppose a government order blocking 26 social media platforms. Prompted curfews, mass arrests, and accusations that police used live ammunition against crowds.
Protests in Nepal’s capital turned deadly on Monday after thousands of demonstrators — many described as members of “Gen-Z” — pushed through fencing and surrounded the parliamentary complex in Baneshwor, chanting “Stop the ban on social media, stop corruption not social media.” Police responded with tear gas and water cannon, and Reuters and local outlets reported officers fired on crowds attempting to storm the building; state television put the death toll at at least 14 with many more wounded.
The unrest followed a government order last week to block 26 social media platforms — including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube and Instagram — after officials said the companies repeatedly failed to comply with requests to register their operations in Nepal. The communications minister, Prithvi Subba Gurung, announced the move and said platforms that had registered (including TikTok and Viber) would remain available. The ban was imposed amid a broader push to force online platforms to accept local oversight.
As demonstrators pressed toward the restricted zones around parliament and the presidential house, police were reportedly outnumbered and sought shelter inside the parliamentary compound. Authorities imposed curfews across parts of the city and deployed additional security forces as hospitals received dozens of injured protesters. Journalists on the ground described chaotic scenes of injured people being ferried to medical facilities on motorcycles and reports that an ambulance had been set alight during the unrest.
Monday’s rally was widely described in local and international reporting as a “Gen-Z” protest, reflecting heavy participation by younger people born roughly between 1995 and 2010. Many protesters said the ban threatened not only free speech but also livelihoods — small businesses, creators and migrant families rely on social platforms to trade and stay connected with relatives abroad. Organisers framed the demonstrations as opposition to censorship and alleged government corruption.
Kathmandu officials defended the ban as a legal enforcement step. The Ministry of Communications said it had repeatedly asked platforms to register and abide by Nepali law, following a Supreme Court directive issued on 17 August that online platforms should register with the competent authority before operating in the country. Authorities say the measure is intended to improve accountability and curb misinformation; critics argue it creates a pretext for sweeping censorship.
Human-rights and press-freedom organisations warned the order risks undermining fundamental rights. Critics say the proposed regulatory architecture — and draft legislation circulating in parliament — would grant bureaucrats powers to shut down platforms, revoke journalists’ licences, ban NGOs and access private communications. Rights groups and opposition figures called the measures an attempt to silence dissent and weaken Nepal’s open civic space.
Beyond political debate, the ban has immediate economic repercussions. Small and medium enterprises that depend on social platforms for sales and marketing face disruption, and Nepali workers abroad use apps to keep family ties. Protesters argued the order would hit commerce and daily life as much as political speech, a point underscored by the rapid mobilisation of youth and digital communities.
Sky News’s India correspondent Neville Lazarus described unprecedented scenes: police using tear gas, water cannon and batons, then reportedly resorting to live firing into crowds that had surrounded the parliament. Journalists and local officials reported multiple fatalities at hospitals; authorities have yet to publicly release detailed casualty lists or a full account of rules of engagement. Independent investigations and medical reports will be necessary to confirm the precise sequence of events and responsibility for the deaths.
Nepal’s modern democracy is relatively young — the monarchy ended in 2008 after a Maoist insurgency and the country has since experienced recurring political turbulence, including rapid changes of prime minister. Observers say the current crisis — and the government’s hardline regulation of online spaces — represents one of the gravest challenges yet to Nepal’s democratic institutions, testing the balance between state control and civil liberties.
The move to block platforms is not wholly new. In 2023 Nepal temporarily banned TikTok citing concerns about “social harmony” and indecent content; that ban was later lifted after platform assurances. The government has also previously moved to restrict access to pornographic sites (2018) and other online services. Rights advocates say a pattern of selective enforcement and opaque regulation raises the risk of wider censorship.
Date | Event |
|---|---|
17 Aug 2025 | Nepal’s Supreme Court ruled that online and social media platforms should be mandatorily registered with competent authorities before operation. |
4 Sep 2025 | Government ordered ISPs to block access to 26 social media platforms after platforms failed to register; Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung announced the move. |
8 Sep 2025 | Mass protests in Kathmandu; protesters breached barricades near parliament, police used tear gas, water cannon and reportedly live fire; state TV reported at least 14 dead and dozens injured. Curfews imposed in parts of the city. |
Early Sep 2025 (ongoing) | Rights groups file petitions; businesses and diaspora report disruption; live reporting continues and authorities begin emergency responses. |
