Wed Sep 10 09:08:28 UTC 2025: **Kathmandu Under Army Lockdown as Anti-Corruption Protests Rage, Parliament Ablaze**
**Kathmandu, Nepal** – The Nepali army has enforced a strict curfew in Kathmandu, ordering residents to stay indoors as mass unrest grips the capital. The city is reeling from days of intense anti-government protests that have seen demonstrators set fire to the parliament building and other key government facilities.
The protests, initially sparked by a now-reversed social media ban, have escalated into a broader outcry against corruption and unemployment. Anger intensified following Monday’s deadly clashes where security forces killed 19 protesters and injured hundreds.
On Wednesday, armed soldiers patrolled the streets, checking vehicles and pedestrians in an attempt to “normalize” the situation. Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet stated, “We are trying to normalize the situation first. We are committed to protect the life and property of people.”
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday, following the lead of the Home Minister and Agriculture Minister, who stepped down on Monday. Despite Oli’s resignation and the military deployment, the unrest continues. Demonstrators blocked roads and stormed the parliament, presidential house, and central secretariat. Videos circulated online showed protestors attacking Nepali Congress party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba.
Frustration has been building in Nepal due to high unemployment rates, nearing 11 percent according to the World Bank. Many Nepalis have migrated abroad in search of work, while the perceived extravagance of the children of politicians and government officials has fueled public resentment.
President Ram Chandra Poudel, the ceremonial head of state, has appealed for calm. China has also weighed in, advising its citizens in Nepal to exercise caution and expressing hope that the Nepali government can restore social order and stability. The unrest has raised concerns across South Asia about regional stability.
First Piper 