Nepal Police Fire on Protesters,Killing 10,Amid Social Media Ban Dispute
Kathmandu,Nepal – At least ten protesters where killed Monday in Kathmandu,Nepal,after demonstrations against a government decision to block popular social media platforms escalated into violent clashes with police. authorities opened fire on crowds surrounding the Parliament building as protesters attempted to breach security barriers, according to doctors speaking on condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to comment.
The wounded are being treated at half a dozen hospitals across the capital.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets Monday to express outrage over the government’s decision to block access to most social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube. The government cited the companies’ failure to register and submit to government oversight as the reason for the ban.
Protesters reportedly pushed through barbed wire and overwhelmed riot police, surrounding the Parliament building. Police initially responded with tear gas and water cannons, but were forced to retreat inside the Parliament complex as they became outnumbered. The situation deteriorated, leading police to open fire on the demonstrators.A curfew has been imposed around Parliament, the government secretariat, the presidential house, and key areas of Kathmandu in an attempt to quell the unrest.
“Stop the ban on social media, stop corruption not social media,” protesters chanted, waving Nepal’s red and blue national flags. monday’s demonstration was widely referred to as the protest of “Gen Z,” generally encompassing those born between 1995 and 2010.
The government stated that approximately two dozen social network platforms were repeatedly notified to officially register their companies within the country. Those that failed to comply have been blocked as last week. TikTok, Viber, and three other platforms have completed registration and continue to operate without interruption.
The move comes as the government prepares to debate a bill in Parliament aimed at ensuring social media platforms are “properly managed, responsible and accountable.” The proposed legislation would require companies to establish a liaison office or representative within Nepal.
The bill has faced widespread criticism as a potential tool for censorship and a means of suppressing government opposition expressed online. Rights groups have condemned it as an attempt to curb freedom of expression and violate essential rights.
Nepal previously banned TikTok in 2023, citing concerns about disruption to “social harmony, goodwill and diffusing indecent materials.” The ban was lifted last year after TikTok executives pledged to comply with local laws, including a ban on pornographic content passed in 2018.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
