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Armed soldiers patrolled the streets of Kathmandu on Wednesday, ordering residents to remain inside their homes after days of deadly protests rocked Nepal’s capital. The Nepali army set up checkpoints, stopping vehicles and questioning people, as authorities enforced an indefinite curfew aimed at restoring order.
The unrest erupted earlier this week after the government announced a ban on major social media platforms. What began as anger over restrictions on free expression quickly escalated into one of Nepal’s most violent uprisings in decades. By Monday, security forces had opened fire on crowds, killing 19 demonstrators and injuring hundreds more. The crackdown only drew larger numbers into the streets, with tens of thousands of people rallying against corruption, unemployment, and political leaders they accuse of enriching themselves while ordinary citizens struggle.
The protests spiraled out of control on Tuesday evening. Demonstrators set fire to several government offices, blocked roads, and stormed major institutions, including parliament, the presidential residence, and the central secretariat. Videos circulating online showed protesters attacking senior leaders, including Nepali Congress party chief Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, who also serves as foreign minister.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was forced to resign after the protests reached a peak. His departure followed the resignations of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Monday and Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari shortly after. President Ram Chandra Poudel moved quickly to appoint Oli as head of a caretaker government, though his whereabouts remain unclear. In a public appeal, Poudel urged demonstrators to avoid more violence and destruction and instead focus on resolving the crisis peacefully.
Despite his reassurances, anger remains high. Many protesters say the government has failed to address the frustrations of a generation facing deep unemployment. According to the World Bank, nearly 11 percent of young people in Nepal are jobless, while millions more have left to work abroad in Malaysia, the Middle East, and South Korea. Those who remain often see a sharp divide between their daily struggles and the extravagant lifestyles flaunted online by the children of political elites, known locally as “nepo kids.”
Some protesters shared personal accounts of the violence. Among them was 22-year-old Pabit Tandukar, who said he was shot while joining what he described as a peaceful demonstration. “They were firing tear gas at us, and we were pushing back,” he said. “Suddenly, I was shot.”
The army insists its priority is to protect lives and property, but the deployment of soldiers from the barracks after Oli’s resignation has done little to calm public fury. Helicopters were seen transporting ministers to safe locations, a sign of how volatile the situation has become.
The unrest in Nepal has also raised alarm in neighboring countries. Youth-led movements have already toppled governments in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in recent years, and analysts warn that instability in Kathmandu could ripple across the region. On Wednesday, China issued a cautious statement through its foreign ministry, urging Nepal to quickly restore social order and advising Chinese citizens in the country to remain vigilant. Beijing has stepped up its diplomatic and economic presence in Nepal in recent years, particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative, making the current crisis a concern for its interests as well.
For now, the future remains uncertain. The resignation of key leaders has not satisfied the protesters, who continue to demand sweeping political changes. With soldiers on the streets, helicopters overhead, and government offices in flames, Kathmandu is at a standstill, waiting to see whether the anger that began with a social media ban will transform into a deeper political shift.