Nepal faced widespread unrest on Tuesday as protests by Gen Z demonstrators escalated into arson and vandalism, targeting the private residences of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and President Ram Chandra Poudel.
The unrest came a day after Oli lifted a ban on social media, the spark for the nationwide demonstrations.
Videos circulating online showed protesters entering the President’s residence and causing extensive damage. Homes of former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) and Sher Bahadur Deuba, along with Energy Minister Deepak Khadka, were also vandalised.
The prime minister is under mounting pressure to resign, with several ministers stepping down or distancing themselves from the government, reports NDTV.
Curfews were imposed in Kathmandu and other major cities after demonstrators took to the streets for a second consecutive day, throwing stones and confronting authorities. Police response appeared restrained, even as anger intensified against Oli’s administration.
The protests, which claimed at least 19 lives in violent clashes on Monday, initially focused on opposition to the social media ban. However, the movement quickly expanded to broader grievances, including corruption and the privileges of “nepo kids” and “nepo babies,” a reference to nepotism, reports The Kathmandu Post.
Demonstrators carried banners reading “Shut down corruption, not social media” and “Youths against corruption,” while social media buzzed with hashtags like #NepoKid and #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal.
“We are demanding justice for our friends and peers who were killed. KP Oli must be removed from power,” said Narayan Acharya, outside the parliament complex. Durganah Dahal added, “The government’s actions directly target our youth.
“As long as Oli remains in power, ordinary people will continue to suffer.”
The protests were triggered after several social platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube, were blocked for failing to register with government authorities.
Tens of thousands took to the streets on Monday, surrounding the Parliament building, as police opened fire on the crowds. Demonstrators repeatedly chanted against corruption while waving national flags, emphasizing that their demand extended beyond lifting the ban.
