Social media ban lifted: Curfew imposed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur amid violent protests that left 19 dead

According to local media reports, the Kathmandu District Administration Office has imposed an indefinite curfew inside the Ring Road area of the capital city.

Thousands of people, mostly youths, forced their way into the parliament building in Kathmandu on Monday, demanding that the government lift the ban on social media platforms like Facebook and X.

Following the deadly clash between protesters and police, which left 19 people dead, the Nepali government lifted the ban imposed on the social media platforms.

The decision was reportedly taken during an emergency meeting of the cabinet on Monday night.

More than 100 people were also injured in the protests that not only occurred in Kathmandu but also in towns located outside the capital city.

A large number of people, mostly young individuals, utilise social media platforms across the Himalayan capital.

The protesters said the government was showing an authoritarian attitude by banning the social media platforms.

However, the government had backed its decision to ban the platforms last week, citing measures to tackle fake news, hate speech and online fraud.

According to reports, some protesters hurled stones at the house of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Damak, his hometown.

One protester, Sabana Budathoki had earlier told the BBC that the social media ban was "just the reason" they gathered.

"Rather than [the] social media ban, I think everyone's focus is on corruption," she explained, adding: "We want our country back. We came to stop corruption."

Oli issues a statement

PM Oli issued a statement late on Monday when he said the peaceful Gen-Z protest turned violent due to infiltration by certain elements.

“Because of infiltration and our attempts to protect some constitutional institutions from arson and vandalism, a very unfortunate incident occurred today,” Oli was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak

Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned in the evening amid severe criticisms over the administration's use of force during the protest.

‘So unlike Nepal’

UN Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer-Hamdy described the situation as “so unlike Nepal” and feared that casualty numbers will rise.

“Lots of my staff here are crying,” she told UN News in an interview.  “They haven't seen violence in their lifetime.”