Kathmandu — At least 19 people were killed and more than 100 injured on Monday in Nepal as protests over government corruption and a sweeping social media ban erupted into some of the deadliest street clashes the country has seen in years, according to Al Jazeera News.
The violence unfolded in Kathmandu after thousands of young demonstrators marched on the national Parliament, enraged over the government’s decision to block 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Protesters also voiced frustration over widespread corruption and economic stagnation. Police sought to stop the advance, deploying water cannons, tear gas, and live ammunition. Hospitals reported multiple protesters with gunshot wounds to the head and chest, with several in critical condition.
Authorities imposed a curfew in parts of the capital after demonstrators entered the Parliament building, confronting security forces in tense standoffs. The government justified the social media restrictions by claiming that the platforms had failed to register properly with regulators. Critics, however, decried the move as a crackdown on free expression in a country where digital platforms have become essential for political debate, activism, and commerce.
“The crackdown is excessive and deeply troubling,” said a Kathmandu-based human rights advocate. “It risks silencing dissent rather than safeguarding public order.”
The protests underscore broader challenges in Nepal’s fragile democracy, which has faced repeated waves of political unrest since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008. Although the country has held multiple elections, frustration over corruption, restricted freedoms, and poor governance remains widespread.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s administration has not yet issued a public response to the bloodshed, while opposition leaders accused the government of provoking the violence through heavy-handed tactics. What began as a protest over digital restrictions now threatens to escalate into a broader confrontation between citizens demanding greater freedoms and a state determined to assert control.
For many Nepalis, the unrest raises a central question: in the digital age, who truly controls the public square?
