Kathmandu Protest Turns Deadly: 14 Killed, Over 100 Injured in Police Firing
At least 14 people were killed and over 100 were injured after police opened fire during a violent protest by Gen Z demonstrators in Baneshwor, Kathmandu, today. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has called an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers and the National Security Council this evening at his residence in Kathmandu. The protest, sparked by a recent government ban on major social media platforms, escalated as protesters stormed the Federal Parliament premises. Authorities initially attempted to disperse the crowd using tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and aerial firing, but tensions spiralled out of control. According to preliminary reports, five of the deceased died at the Trauma Centre, two at Civil Hospital, and one at Kathmandu Medical College. Identities of some victims remain unconfirmed.
The Kathmandu District Administration Office has imposed a curfew from 12:30 PM to 10 PM in key areas of the capital, including Baneshwor, Tinkune, and around government institutions such as the President’s Office and Singhadurbar. The protest was triggered by a nationwide ban on unregistered social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube, enforced from September 4. Young people, citing threats to free speech and digital expression, organised via TikTok and marched on Parliament. The movement has gained widespread traction, calling for transparency, accountability, and a reversal of the ban.
