Soldiers were seen patrolling the streets of Kathmandu on Wednesday as an indefinite curfew remained in effect following two days of violent anti-corruption protests in Nepal’s capital. The protests, which led to Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s resignation, have been described as the most severe unrest the country has faced in decades.
The unrest began after a social media ban was imposed last week but later reversed following the deaths of 19 people on Monday. The fatalities occurred as police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.
“We are trying to normalise the situation first,” said army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet. “We are committed to protecting the life and property of people.”
No major protests were reported in Kathmandu on Wednesday, though reports indicated that around 25 people attempting to “create trouble” on the city’s outskirts had been detained, though these reports have not been verified.
During Tuesday’s protests, several government buildings, including the Supreme Court, Parliament, and the residences of ministers, as well as Oli’s private home, were set on fire. The violence began to subside only after Oli’s resignation.
“There are no protesters here,” said Ram Kumar Shrestha, a resident of the Maharajgunj area. “Only a few people are walking in the street. It is peaceful here.”
According to media reports, there were talks in the works between the authorities and the protesters, though details were not immediately available.
The majority of protesters were young people frustrated by what they saw as the government’s inability to address corruption and improve economic prospects. For many years, a lack of employment has driven millions of Nepalis to seek work abroad in places like Malaysia, the Middle East, and South Korea, particularly in construction, so they can send money back home.
Nepal, located between India and China, has faced political and economic instability since the monarchy was abolished in 2008 after a series of protests.
India’s security cabinet met on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Nepal. “Nepal’s stability, peace, and prosperity are of utmost importance,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X. “I humbly appeal to all my brothers and sisters in Nepal to maintain peace and order.”
