At least 14 people were killed and several people were injured on Monday as violent protests by youths rocked the Nepalese capital Kathmandu and certain other areas in the country over the government's move to ban social media sites. Thousands of people, including school students, under the banner of Gen Z, gathered in front of the Parliament building in Kathmandu and raised anti- government slogans, demanding immediate revocation of the ban. According to media reports, four journalists were also among the injured.
1. Besides the ban on social media, the youth are also protesting, demanding transparency in governance, accountability, and an end to institutionalised corruption, which benefits politicians in the country. The placards being carried by the protestors, who claimed that they are protesting against the authoritarian attitude of the authorities, had slogans like "enough is enough" and "end to corruption".
2. In the wake of the protests, the Nepali Army has been deployed in several areas, and a curfew is in place in many areas in a bid to control the crowd. Kathmandu District Administration issued a prohibitory order from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm Monday in areas surrounding the Parliament building.
3. The ministry of health and population has asked the federal hospitals to ensure free treatment to those who sustained injuries in the protests. Hospitals have also been told to make necessary arrangements for ambulance services.
4. Expressing concern over the escalating protests, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked authorities to refrain from excessive use of force and take steps to address the concerns raised by the protesting Gen Z members. "The Constitution of Nepal and international human rights laws guarantee every individual the right to peaceful expression of dissent....A democratic government must identify and address legitimate voices of citizens in a timely manner. The use of excessive force by security agencies, as well as violent incidents during protests, are deeply concerning," it said.
5. Celebrities, including Madan Krishna Shrestha, Hari Bansha Acharya, singer and actor Prakash Saput, and actor and director Nischal Basnet have backed the protests, urging the government authorities to improve their performance and urged the police to exercise restraint.