One person was killed and dozens were injured on Monday as Nepali police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse thousands of young protesters attempting to break into parliament during demonstrations against a social media shutdown and alleged government corruption.
State-run Nepal Television reported that at least one person died and more than 50 were injured in the violence outside the parliament building in Kathmandu. Local media put the death toll higher, reporting at least six fatalities, though this has not been officially confirmed.
The unrest erupted after Nepal blocked access to several social media platforms, including Facebook, last week in a crackdown on what authorities described as misuse by users with fake accounts spreading hate speech, fake news, and committing fraud.
Protesters, many of them students in school or college uniforms, carried national flags and placards with slogans such as “Shut down corruption, not social media” and “Youths against corruption.” Television footage showed demonstrators pushing through police barricades, throwing projectiles, and facing off with security forces in riot gear as streets filled with tear gas.
Authorities imposed a curfew around parliament and extended it to the Singha Durbar area, which houses the prime minister’s office, the president’s residence, and other ministries. “We have imposed a curfew which will remain in force until 10 p.m. local time to bring the situation under control after protesters began to turn violent,” said Muktiram Rijal, spokesperson for Kathmandu’s district office.
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Police were ordered to use water cannons, batons, and rubber bullets to contain the unrest. An ambulance was reportedly set on fire, and protesters temporarily stopped a security vehicle headed towards parliament.
Parliament spokesperson Ekram Giri said some protesters managed to enter the premises but did not reach the main building before being driven out.
Demonstrations also spread to other cities, including Biratnagar and Bharatpur in the southern plains, and Pokhara, the gateway to Mount Annapurna in western Nepal.
Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government has faced mounting criticism from opponents who accuse it of failing to tackle corruption. Public frustration boiled over with the social media ban, which protesters say undermines free expression in a country where about 90 per cent of the 30 million population uses the internet.
Nepal’s restrictions come as governments around the world, including the United States, the European Union, India, Brazil, China, and Australia, are tightening oversight of social media and Big Tech over concerns about misinformation, online harms, and national security. Critics, however, warn that such measures risk stifling free speech.
