Nepal police kill several people at 'Gen Z' protest

Multiple people have died in Kathmandu after police fired live rounds having been unable to hold back crowds of anti-corruption protesters with tear gas and water cannon. The government has lifted its social media ban.

Police in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, opened fire Monday on protesters, killing at least 16 people and wounding dozens more.

Tens of thousands had taken to the streets to protest corruption following the blocking of social media platforms such as Facebook, X and YouTube .

On Tuesday, the government announced lifting its controversial ban, and reports suggested social media outlets were once again accessible.

What is happening in Kathmandu?

The protest, dubbed the "Gen Z rally,"  saw young demonstrators pushing through barbed wire and overwhelming riot police as they marched toward Parliament. The protesters included many young people dressed in school or college uniforms.

Police initially used tear gas and water cannon but were quickly forced to retreat behind the gates of the parliamentary complex.

The situation escalated when officers began firing into the crowd.

Hospitals across Kathmandu reported a steady flow of fatalities and injuries. A spokesman for the Kathmandu valley police gave a higher death toll of 16 to the AFP news agency, with another 100 receiving medical treatment. 

By late afternoon, the government had imposed a curfew across central Kathmandu, including the presidential palace, parliament and the prime minister's offices.

Despite the restrictions, crowds remained in the streets chanting slogans such as "Stop corruption, not social media" and waving the red and blue national flag.

Police spokesman Shekhar Khanal confirmed at least 10 deaths and 87 injuries, saying the situation remained "volatile."

Civil Hospital's information officer Ranjana Nepal described chaotic scenes as tear gas seeped into wards, disrupting medical care. "I have never seen such a disturbing situation," she told the AFP news agency.

Why are people protesting in Nepal?

The trigger for the protests was the ban on social media platforms with sites including Facebook, YouTube and X inaccessible in the former monarchy since Friday.

The government blocked 26 unregistered platforms, leaving users angry and confused.

Authorities said the social companies had refused to register under Nepali law, which requires foreign platforms to establish local representation and a compliance officer. Only a handful, including TikTok and Viber, have complied so far.

The government has defended its move as necessary to ensure accountability and prevent abuses online. Officials insist they respect freedom of expression but want platforms to be "responsible and properly managed."

Rights groups have denounced the ban as censorship, while critics say it risks inflaming unrest in a fragile democracy.

The protests have spread beyond Kathmandu to other districts and reflect wider frustration at corruption and governance.

"We want to see change. Others have endured this, but it has to end with our generation," 20-year-old student Ikshama Tumrok told AFP news agency. Another protester, Bhumika Bharati, told AFP that the government feared a mass anti-corruption movement like those abroad.

Edited by: Louis Oelofse