KATHMANDU – Violent protests hit Nepal’s capital on Monday, 8 September, after the government blocked access to 26 popular social platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X.
The clashes left at least 19 dead and more than 300 injured as police faced thousands of mostly young demonstrators, many calling themselves part of the “Gen Z” movement. Protesters forced their way into the parliament complex in New Baneshwor.
Police used rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons throughout the day, which led to widespread anger and the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. By late evening, officials announced that the ban would be reversed. While the unrest was triggered by the blackout, it quickly exposed deeper anger around corruption, nepotism, and poor economic growth.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s government banned 26 messaging and social media platforms on 4 September, saying they failed to follow new national rules. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology had given companies a week from 28 August to register with local authorities, appoint complaint officers, and accept full oversight from government regulators.
Officials said the move would help stop rumours, hate speech, and online scams. Unregistered apps, they said, put national security at risk. The Supreme Court backed the crackdown with a ruling on 17 August.
The ban went into effect at midnight on Thursday, 4 September, cutting off online messaging, business, and entertainment for most of the nation. Around 90 percent of Nepal’s 30 million people use the internet.
Over 13 million have Facebook accounts, and 3.6 million use Instagram. Small businesses, tourism, and families with loved ones working overseas were hit hard. TikTok and Viber, which agreed to the new rules, stayed available, but the blackout of the biggest services fuelled even more public anger, especially among young people.
What Drove Thousands to the Streets?
The “Gen Z rally” started early Monday morning near Kathmandu’s Maitighar Mandala. Most of those joining were students in school and college uniforms. Their main demands were the return of social networks and an end to government corruption.
Signs read slogans like “Shut down corruption, not social media” and “Unban social media”.
While the internet blackout was the spark, many said the issues ran deeper. Yujan Rajbhandari, a 24-year-old student, told the press the protest was about ending entrenched corruption, not just the ban.
Ikshama Tumrok, age 20, criticized what she called an “authoritarian attitude” and said Nepal needed real change. Clips posted on TikTok, one of the few platforms still open, showed the daily challenges ordinary Nepalis face, contrasting these with how politicians’ children live. These clips quickly spread anger and motivated even more people to protest.
Nepal’s younger generation (born between 1995 and 2010) feels stuck by a lack of decent jobs and poor prospects, forcing many to move abroad for work and study. The country has changed governments several times since the monarchy ended in 2008, and this political chaos has added to the sense that corruption and family links matter more than skill.
Anurag Acharya, who works at Policy Entrepreneurs Inc. in Kathmandu, said that for Gen Z, the real problem is the shortage of opportunities at home, pushing thousands to leave the country each year.
Tensions rose after protesters broke through police lines and tried to get into the parliament building. An ambulance was set on fire, and some demonstrators hurled stones and other objects at riot police.
Authorities said they used water cannons, rubber bullets, and batons to push back the crowds. Witnesses and protesters said officers used live ammunition at times. One demonstrator told reporters his friend was hit when bullets were fired into the crowd.
Seventeen of the deaths happened in Kathmandu and two in the eastern city of Itahari. Local hospitals were soon full of injured people.
Government Forces Curfews in Nepal
In response to the growing violence, authorities in Kathmandu announced a curfew across major government sites, including the parliament, the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar, the presidential palace in Shital Niwas, and Singha Durbar, the central government offices.
The curfew ran from 12:30 PM to 10:00 PM on Monday and spread to other cities such as Birgunj, Pokhara, and Butwal as unrest grew. Soldiers from the Nepal Army were sent onto the streets, but many protesters stood their ground, even lying in front of army vehicles to prevent them from moving forward.
Prime Minister Oli called an emergency meeting with his Cabinet. On Monday night, officials announced that the social media ban would end. The Minister for Communications, Prithvi Subba Gurung, appealed to protesters to go home, promised compensation for victims’ families, and said those injured would have hospital costs covered.
The government also promised a judicial inquiry into the crackdown within two weeks. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned and took responsibility for the police violence, which opposition parties quickly used to push for Oli’s own resignation.
Social Media Companies Respond
Major platforms faced mounting pressure from the Nepali government, which demanded strict local oversight. Rights groups criticized the move as an attempt at censorship. None of the blocked platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Snapchat, released detailed statements about the ban by 9 September.
Their silence led to calls from activists for global tech companies to speak up for their users. TikTok, which met the government’s requirements after a short ban in 2023, continued to operate, offering a model for others to follow.
Human rights groups like Human Rights Watch and the United Nations criticized the government’s response and called for transparent investigations. Ravina Shamdasani, speaking for the UN, said the deaths and injuries shocked observers and pressed for a full inquiry. Critics warned that the blackout could damage free speech and Nepal’s open society, with smaller businesses and tourism among the first to feel the effects.
These protests have made a strong mark on Nepal’s younger generation, who organized without links to any political party. Aayush Basyal, a 27-year-old student, described the turnout as “unprecedented”, with no political banners in sight. The National Human Rights Council confirmed that authorities used excessive force, including tear gas, near hospitals.
Despite lifting the ban, deep resentment remains. For Prime Minister Oli, the main challenge will be to keep order while dealing with a tech-savvy, motivated youth.
The events of 8 September 2025 highlight the fragile state of Nepal’s democracy. The struggle for digital access goes hand-in-hand with calls for honest government. As families mourn those lost, many are left wondering whether this powerful youth movement will bring real change or simply deepen existing divides.
