Days after Nepal banned social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp, its cities including capital Kathmandu witnessed massive youth protests, leading bloody clashes with the police.
At least nine people have been confirmed dead by the Nepalese police in these clashes. The agitation is being termed as Gen-Z protest in Nepal.
In a statement, quoted by news agency ANI, the police said, “Nine people have lost their lives after protest turned violent in Kathmandu as people staged a massive protest against the ban on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and other social media sites, leading to clashes between police and protesters.”
Several thousands of Nepali youngsters took to streets in Kathmandu on Monday in protest against the government. They carried placards with slogans such as “Shut down corruption and not social media”, “Unban social media”, and “Youths against corruption” as they marched through Kathmandu, as per Reuters.
As thousands of protestors, many of them in school or college uniforms, marched towards the parliament, the police set up barricades to stop them.
However, as protesters breached the restricted zone and entered the parliament premises, the police responded with water cannon, tear gas, and live ammunition, killing one and injuring many of the protesters, according to The Kathmandu Post.
At least one person, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, died while undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital, according to Mohan Chandra Regmi, the executive director of the Hospital.
Regmi further said that dozens of injured protesters were being treated at the hospital, Everest Hospital, and other nearby hospitals, according to The Post.
The authorities have imposed a curfew in Kathmandu amid protests.
“We have imposed a curfew which will remain in force until 10 p.m. local time (1615 GMT) to bring the situation under control after protesters began to turn violent,” Muktiram Rijal, a spokesperson for the Kathmandu district office, told Reuters.
The immediate trigger of youth-led protests, being dubbed the ‘Gen Z protest’, is the government’s move to ban 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X, for not complying with the government’s policy.
The AFP has reported that many such platforms have not been accessible in the country since Friday and have affected millions of users who rely on these platforms to run businesses, read news, and stay connected with friends and family.
However, the ban merely brought public’s anger against the government and politicians to the fore that had been there for a long time. (Firstpost)