Protest In Nepal: Thousands Of Gen Z Protesters Hit Kathmandu Streets Against Social Media Ban; 14 Dead

The heart of Nepal, Kathmandu, turned into a battleground on Monday as thousands of young protesters hit the streets of New Baneshwar to denounce corruption and the government's sweeping ban on social media platforms.

Looking at the out-of-control going situation, police opened up firing, in which, 14 protesters were killed.

What began as peaceful demonstrations quickly spiraled into chaos when security barricades were torn down and crowds surged into restricted zones near Parliament. Police retaliated with tear gas and water cannons, while some officers opened fire. Several protesters were injured and rushed to Everest, Civil, and other nearby hospitals. Volunteer activists hurried to set up a first-aid camp in Maitighar to treat the wounded.

Chanting slogans against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's administration, demonstrators hurled branches and bottles, demanding the immediate reversal of the ban that has silenced Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and more. Some even stormed the Parliament premises, a rare act of defiance in Nepal's political landscape.

#WATCH | Nepal: Thousands of people protest in Kathmandu against the ban on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and other social media sites, leading to clashes between police and protesters. pic.twitter.com/klrP1HRJQd

— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2025

In response, authorities imposed a strict curfew from 12:30 pm to 10 pm across New Baneshwar and surrounding areas, prohibiting all gatherings, rallies, or movement.

The unrest was sparked by the government's recent order that tech giants like Meta and Alphabet register with the Ministry of Communication - a demand they ignored. For the youth, however, the ban struck deeper: it cut off their social, cultural, and political lifeline.

As tear gas lingered over New Baneshwar, one thing was clear - Nepal's younger generation is no longer content to protest online. They are now taking their fight for digital freedom to the streets.