Mass protests led by Nepal’s Generation Z turned deadly on Monday, September 8, as clashes with security forces left several people dead and dozens more injured. Demonstrators were rallying against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s government, denouncing corruption and condemning the sudden ban on more than two dozen social media platforms.
The government last week blocked Facebook, YouTube, X, Instagram, WhatsApp, Reddit, and LinkedIn, saying the companies failed to register with Nepal’s communications ministry. Protesters said the ban was an assault on free expression, sparking what they dubbed the ‘Gen Z Revolution.’
Tensions escalated when crowds attempted to breach police barricades near parliament. Security forces responded with tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and in some cases live rounds. Casualty figures remain disputed: state media confirmed at least one dead and 50 injured, while opposition leaders and local reports put the toll as high as eight or nine dead and over 80 wounded.
Curfews have been imposed in Kathmandu’s government district, with the army deployed to sensitive sites. Protests have since spread to major cities including Biratnagar, Pokhara, Bharatpur, and Damak.
