At least 19 people were killed on Monday after police in Nepal opened fire on protesters opposing a social media ban.
Crowds filled Kathmandu, surrounding parliament, chanting, “Stop the ban on social media, stop corruption not social media.”
Police official Shekhar Khanal confirmed the death toll and said 145 people were wounded, including 28 police officers.
The protests turned violent as demonstrators pushed through barbed wire, forcing riot police to retreat inside the parliament complex.
Anger spread after authorities blocked major platforms such as Facebook, X and YouTube, citing failure to register locally.
Tens of thousands took to the streets in what was described as the “Gen Z protest,” led mainly by younger Nepalese.
Protesters set fire to homes belonging to senior political leaders, intensifying tensions and drawing international concern over Nepal’s stability.
The government defended its decision, arguing that laws were needed to make social platforms accountable and responsible for shared content.
However, rights groups strongly criticised the bill, calling it censorship and a threat to free expression in the Himalayan nation.
The proposed bill has not been fully debated in parliament but is already dividing public opinion and fuelling unrest.
Police eventually fired live rounds at the protesters, triggering bloodshed and raising questions about the state’s heavy-handed response.
The government announced a strict curfew around parliament, the secretariat and the presidential residence as violence escalated.
TikTok, Viber and three other platforms remain available, having registered as required by Nepalese authorities.
Nepal previously banned TikTok in 2023 but later restored access after the company agreed to follow local rules.
