Nepalese army moves to restore order after protest violence intensifies
[September 10, 2025]
By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepalese soldiers guarded the streets of the
country's capital on Wednesday and ordered people to stay at home as
they moved to restore order after tens of thousands of protesters
stormed and set fire to government buildings and attacked politicians.
Armed troops guarding the main areas of Kathmandu appeared to give some
sense of control returning to the city that was engulfed in violence and
chaos in the previous days. Soldiers told residents about the curfew in
place as they checked vehicles and people.
The army warned late Tuesday that security forces were committed to
preserving law and order. The military is rarely mobilized in Nepal and
initially stayed in the barracks as police failed to control the
situation. An army statement said 27 suspected looters have been
arrested.
Soldiers fired into the air on Wednesday after prisoners overpowered
police guards and tried to escape from the main jail in the heart of
Kathmandu.
The prisoners set fire to buildings with cells and guard houses and
broke down the main entrance before pouring into the streets. The
soldiers were able to block the escape attempt and transferred the
prisoners to different jails. There were no injuries reported.
Earlier on Tuesday, the protests had grown increasingly violent as
demonstrators set fire to government buildings and politicians’ homes
and attacked some leaders. As criticism of the country’s political elite
widened, the prime minister resigned, though it appeared to have little
effect on the unrest.
Tens of thousands of protesters remained on the streets, blocking roads
and storming government facilities. Army helicopters ferried some
ministers to safety.
Also Tuesday, hundreds of inmates escaped from prisons in Kathmandu and
other cities after police there abandoned their posts as a growing
number of protesters attacked the security forces.
Anger over the social media ban was just the beginning
On Monday, demonstrations led by young people angry about the blocking
of several social media sites gripped Katmandu, with police opening fire
on the crowds, killing 19 people. The social media ban was lifted on
Tuesday, but the protests continued, fueled by rage over the deaths and
accusations of political corruption.
President Ram Chandra Poudel, the ceremonial head of state, appealed to
the protesters to pursue a peaceful resolution and stop further
escalation. He accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad
Oli and tasked him with leading a caretaker government until a new one
is in place, though Oli's position and whereabouts were not clear.
The demonstrations — dubbed the protest of Gen Z — began after the
government blocked social media platforms, including Facebook, X and
YouTube, saying those companies had failed to register and submit to
government oversight.
The protests spiraled to reflect broader discontent.
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Protesters celebrate at the Singha Durbar, the seat of Nepal's
government's various ministries and offices after it was set on fire
during a protest against social media ban and corruption in
Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Prakash
Timalsina)
Many young people are angry that the children of political leaders —
so-called nepo kids — seem to enjoy luxury lifestyles and numerous
advantages while most youth struggle to find work. With youth
unemployment running at about 20% last year, according to the World
Bank, the government estimates that more than 2,000 young people
leave the country every day to seek work in the Middle East or
Southeast Asia.
Political leaders, buildings and homes were targeted
Videos shared on social media show protesters beating up Nepali
Congress party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana
Deuba, the current foreign minister. Both appeared to be bleeding,
while one video shows the party leader being helped to safety. The
party is the country’s largest and is part of the governing
coalition.
Smoke was still rising Wednesday from the parliament building,
presidential house, the central secretariat that houses the offices
of the prime minister and key ministries, and the prime minister’s
official residence.
The building of Kantipur publication, Nepal's biggest media outlet,
was torched and damaged. Car showrooms were also torched and
burned-out vehicles dotted the streets.
In addition to the 19 fatalities, scores of people were wounded. Oli
has ordered an investigation into the shootings and promised
compensation to the families.
The government is seeking to regulate social media
The violence unfolded as Nepal's government pursues a broader
attempt to regulate social media with a bill aimed at ensuring the
platforms are “properly managed, responsible and accountable.”
The proposal has been widely criticized as a tool for censorship and
for punishing government opponents who voice their protests online.
The bill would require companies to appoint a liaison office or a
point of contact in the country. Rights groups have called it an
attempt by the government to curb freedom of expression and
fundamental rights.
The registration requirement applied to about two dozen social
networks widely used in Nepal. Those that didn't comply were blocked
last week, though TikTok, Viber and three other platforms that
registered were operating without interruption.
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