Nepal Gen Z protests against social media ban, clashes leave 14 dead

KATHMANDU: At least 14 people were killed and dozens were injured in Nepal on Monday as violent clashes erupted between protesters and security forces over a government decision to block major social media platforms.

The unrest began after thousands of mostly young demonstrators gathered in Maitighar, a central Kathmandu neighbourhood known for the iconic Maitighar Mandala monument, to denounce corruption and demand the lifting of the ban on 26 social media websites, including Facebook, X, and YouTube.

Chanting “Stop the ban on social media, stop corruption, not social media,” protesters waved national flags and pushed through barricades, eventually surrounding Nepal’s parliament building. Riot police, initially armed with water cannons and tear gas, were forced to retreat into the parliamentary complex as crowds surged forward.

Security forces later opened fire on demonstrators attempting to storm the building, killing at least 14, according to state-run television. A curfew was quickly imposed in several areas of Kathmandu to contain the unrest.

The Associated Press reported that officers were vastly outnumbered and took shelter inside the parliament compound after intense confrontations.

The government’s ban on social media — which officials claim is necessary to curb misinformation and maintain public order — has sparked widespread anger, particularly among Nepal’s Gen Z population, who view the restrictions as an attack on free expression.

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