Sat Mar 29 08:46:21 UTC 2025: ## Deadly Clashes Erupt in Nepal During Pro-Monarchy Protest

**Kathmandu, Nepal** – Two people were killed and over 100 injured in violent clashes that erupted in Kathmandu on Friday during a pro-monarchy protest demanding the restoration of Nepal’s constitutional monarchy. The demonstration, organized by supporters of former King Gyanendra Shah, quickly spiraled into chaos as protesters pelted stones at police, attacked the offices of a political party, set fire to vehicles, and looted shops.

Authorities responded by deploying police and eventually the army to quell the unrest. Police used tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets, and reportedly fired live rounds into the air to disperse the crowd attempting to march towards the parliament building. One protester died from a gunshot wound, while a journalist was killed when a building he was filming from was set ablaze.

A curfew was imposed in parts of Kathmandu on Friday evening and lifted Saturday morning. Police have arrested at least 105 individuals, including prominent members of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, for their involvement in the violence. The key organizer of the protest, Durga Prasai, remains at large.

The violence resulted in significant damage to property, including 14 buildings set on fire, nine vandalized, and numerous vehicles torched or damaged. At least 53 police officers, 22 members of the Armed Police Force, and 35 protesters sustained injuries. Several media outlets, including Kantipur Television and Annapurna Media House, were also targeted.

Government officials condemned the actions as “sheer vandalism, arson, looting and anarchy,” and not a legitimate protest. Meanwhile, opposition parties held a counter-demonstration to uphold the republican system. Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ called for the arrest of former King Gyanendra Shah, alleging his complicity in the violence and urging an investigation.

The protest reflects deeper public discontent with the country’s political instability and lack of economic development since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008. While the former king has largely stayed out of politics, recent public appearances and a video message appealing for support appear to have fueled the pro-monarchy movement. The event underscores the ongoing tensions between those who yearn for a return to the monarchy and those committed to Nepal’s republican system.

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