KATHMANDU: Violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Nepal have left at least 19 people dead, as thousands gathered outside the parliament building in Kathmandu to protest the government’s ban on popular social media platforms including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.
The demonstrations, led by a youth-led movement calling itself “Generation Z,” turned deadly when police used force to disperse crowds. Authorities deployed water cannons, batons, and rubber bullets, sparking chaos and confrontations in the heart of the capital.
Nepal’s Minister for Communications, Prithvi Subba, told the BBC that police were compelled to use force when protesters defied restrictions. He defended the government’s move, saying the ban on social media was necessary to combat fake news, hate speech, and online fraud.
Protesters, many of them young people, held placards reading “Enough is enough” and “End Corruption,” accusing the government of authoritarian behavior. Some demonstrators scaled the walls surrounding the parliament, prompting further crackdown by police.
According to Kathmandu police spokesperson Shekhar Khanal, 17 people died in the capital alone. He told AFP that “tear gas and water cannons were used only after protesters attempted to breach a restricted area.”
In the eastern city of Itahari, a similar protest resulted in two additional fatalities, according to local police reports.
Authorities have now imposed a curfew in and around the parliament complex, as confirmed by a spokesperson from Kathmandu’s district office.
Last week, the government ordered a blanket ban on 26 social media platforms, citing non-compliance with national regulations. Officials said the platforms had failed to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, as required by law.
The sweeping crackdown has drawn widespread criticism from rights groups and the international community, who view the restrictions as an attack on freedom of expression and democratic values.
As tensions remain high, it is unclear whether the government will reconsider its decision or further tighten control over digital communications.
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