Kathmandu, 8 September (H.S.): The Kathmandu District Administration imposed a day-long curfew in New Baneshwar on Monday after violent clashes erupted between Gen Z protesters and security forces. The unrest came as thousands of young demonstrators hit the streets to oppose rampant corruption and the government’s ban on 26 popular but unregistered social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Snapchat.
According to officials, at least nine people were killed and dozens injured when police opened fire during the protests near the Federal Parliament building. Injured demonstrators were rushed to Everest, Civil, and other nearby hospitals, while activists set up a makeshift first aid camp at Maitighar.
Chief District Officer Chhabilal Rijal issued the curfew order under Section 6 of the Local Administration Act, restricting all public movement, gatherings, and demonstrations from 12:30 pm to 10 pm on Monday. The curfew zone covers New Baneshwar Chowk west to Everest Hotel and Bijulibazar Arch Bridge, east to Tinkune Chowk, north to Ratna Rajya Secondary School, and south to Shankhamul Bridge.
Tensions flared after protesters broke through police barricades and entered restricted areas, including the Parliament premises. Security personnel used tear gas, water cannons, and aerial fire to disperse crowds as demonstrators hurled bottles, branches, and anti-government slogans.
The protests followed the government’s decision last week to block unregistered social media platforms that failed to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology by the September 3 deadline. The directive, issued on August 25, targeted 26 platforms including Meta’s Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Alphabet’s YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Reddit, and others.
Defending the move, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli said on Sunday that Nepal was not against social media itself, but against “lawlessness and disrespect for national sovereignty.” He asserted, “The independence of the nation is greater than the loss of jobs of a handful of individuals. How can it be acceptable to defy the law, disregard the constitution, and disrespect national dignity?”
Despite the curfew, youth-led groups have vowed to continue nationwide demonstrations in the coming days, framing the unrest as a “Gen Z rebellion” against corruption, censorship, and political arrogance.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
