19 dead in Nepal as Gen Z protests at graft, social media ban

Nepal Police fires on protesters on Monday near Parliament. AP Photo

At least 19 people have been killed and dozens injured in Nepal after demonstrations against political corruption and a government social media ban led to clashes between protesters and security forces.

Thousands heeded a call by demonstrators describing themselves as Generation Z to gather near the parliament building in Kathmandu over the decision to ban platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube, as well as over wider dissatisfaction with the government.

Nepal's Minister for Communication Prithvi Subba told the BBC police had to use force - which included water cannons, batons and firing rubber bullets.

The government has said social media platforms need to be regulated to tackle fake news, hate speech and online fraud.

But popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal, who rely on them for entertainment, news and business.

Demonstrators carried placards with slogans including "enough is enough" and "end to corruption".

Some said they were protesting against what they called the authoritarian attitude of the government.

Many in Nepal think corruption is rampant, with the government also facing criticism for failing to deliver on promises to address the country's longstanding economic issues.

Sabana Budathoki told the BBC that the social media ban was "just the reason" they gathered.

"Rather than [the] social media ban, I think everyone's focus is on corruption," she explained, adding: "We want our country back - we came to stop corruption."

Another protester said the ban was to "silence" their voices, so they came to "raise" their voices against that, which they will continue until it brings change.

As the rally moved into a restricted area close to parliament, some protesters climbed over the wall.

Kathmandu Valley Police spokesman Shekhar Khanal said 17 people were killed in the capital.

"Tear gas and water cannons were used after the protesters breached into the restricted area," Khanal told the AFP news agency.

Ranjana Nepal, an official from one hospital which received many of the injured, said tear gas also entered the hospital, making it difficult for doctors to work.

"I have never seen such a disturbing situation at the hospital," she told AFP.

A Kathmandu district office spokesperson said a curfew was imposed around areas including the parliament building after protesters attempted to enter.

Two were also killed in the eastern city of Itahari while protesting after the curfew order was announced, local police said.

Nepal Army Spokesman Rajaram Basnet told the BBC that a small unit of soldiers had been deployed in the streets following the introduction of the curfew.

On Monday evening, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned during a cabinet meeting, local newspaper The Kathmandu Post reported.

A minister present at the meeting said Lekhak stepped down on moral grounds following the deaths at the protests, according to the newspaper.

Last week authorities ordered the blocking of 26 social media platforms for not complying with a deadline to register with Nepal's ministry of communication and information technology.

Since Friday, users have experienced difficulty in accessing the platforms, though some are using VPNs to get around the ban. So far, two platforms have been reactivated after registering with the ministry following the ban.

Nepal's government has argued it is not banning social media but trying to bring them in line with Nepali law. – BBC News