Mon Sep 08 11:26:05 UTC 2025: **Headline: Deadly Clashes Erupt in Nepal Over Social Media Ban, Government Faces Inquiry**

**Kathmandu, Nepal – September 8, 2025** – At least 19 people have been killed in Nepal as police clashed with protesters, largely composed of tech-savvy young people from “Generation Z,” who took to the streets of Kathmandu and other major cities on Monday to voice their anger against government corruption and a recent ban on multiple social media platforms.

The protests intensified as demonstrators marched towards Nepal’s federal parliament building in Baneshwor, breaking through police cordons despite reinforced barricades. They chanted slogans demanding the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma ‘Oli’ and criticizing government corruption.

In response to the escalating unrest, the Kathmandu District Administration Office imposed a curfew in several key areas, including the President’s and Prime Minister’s residences, and the government complex.

The Nepal government has announced the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the day’s events, granting it 15 days to submit a report. The United Nations has called for a swift and transparent investigation into the police’s use of force.

The social media ban, implemented on September 4, 2025, blocked access to 26 platforms including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube, citing non-compliance with registration requirements. Free speech advocates have condemned the ban as a means of silencing dissent.

Nepal’s Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned on Monday evening, taking “moral responsibility” for the deaths. The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed the death toll, with 17 fatalities in Kathmandu and two in Itahari, and over 400 people injured.

Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ expressed regret over the deaths and urged the government to lift the ban and address concerns about corruption. The Nepal Human Rights Commission condemned the excessive use of force by police and called on the government to listen to the demands of the younger generation.

Neighboring India has stepped up security in districts bordering Nepal, with increased patrols and surveillance measures in place. An urgent cabinet meeting is currently underway at the Prime Minister’s residence.

Read More